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THE JAMES VERNER SCAIFE
COLLECTION
CIVIL WAR LITERATURE
THE GIFT Of
JAMES VERNER SCAIFE
CLASS OF 1869
1919
Cornell University
Library
The original of this book is in
the Cornell University Library.
There are no known copyright restrictions in
the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030906261
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THE STORY
OF THE
Thirteenth Massachusetts
Volunteers
FROM
JULY i6, 1861, TO AUGUST i, 1864
BY
CHARLES E. DAVIS, jR.
BOSTON
ESTES AND LAURIAT
1894
A. 3?4-2.?2.
Copyright, 1S93
By CHARLES E. DAVIS. Jr.
PRESS OF
jaocittaeU snTj CljuttfiiH
BOSTON, U.S.A.
TO THE MEMORY OF
©r. ^llston SEalaa TOfjitneg
LATK SURGEON OF THE THIRTEENTH
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS
THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED
THE AUTHOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Pagb
Organization of the Regiment xi
CHAPTER I.
Boston to Williamsport :
July 29, 1861, to February 28, 1862 .... i
CHAPTER II.
Williamsport to Winchester:
March i to March 17, 1862 20
CHAPTER III.
Winchester to Warrenton Junction:
March 18 to May 11, 1862 40
CHAPTER IV.
Warrenton Junction to Falmouth :
May 12 to May 27, 1862 ....... 60
CHAPTER V.
Falmouth to Cedar Mountain:
May 28 to August 9, 1862 74
CHAPTER VI.
Cedar Mountain to Hall's Hill:
Battle of Manassas. August 10 to September 6, 1862 . 100
CHAPTER VII.
Hall's Hill to Sharpsburg:
Battles of South Mountain and Antietam. September 7 to
October 25, 1862 131
CHAPTER VIII.
Sharpsburg to Fletcher's Chapel:
October 26 to December 31, 1862 149
(V)
vi TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX. P*°»
Fletcher's Chapel :
Mud March. January i to April 27, 1863 . . . 176
CHAPTER X.
Fletcher's Chapel ^
Battle of Chancellors ville. April 28 to May 7, 1863 . 200
CHAPTER XI.
Fletcher's Chapel to Emmitsburg :
May 8 to June 30, 1863 211
CHAPTER XII.
Emmitsburg to Gettysburg :
Battle of Gettysburg. July i to July 5, 1863 . . • 225
CHAPTER XIII.
Gettysburg to Kettle Run:
Across the Potomac River. July 6 to November 4, 1863 . 250
CHAPTER XIV.
Kettle Run to Mitchell's Station:
Battle of Mine Run. November 5 to December 31, 1863 . 274
CHAPTER XV.
Mitchell's Station:
January i to May 3, 1864 299
CHAPTER XVI.
Mitchell's Station to Bethesda Church:
Battles of Wilderness and Spottsylvania. May 4 to May
31. 1864 326
CHAPTER XVII.
Bethesda Church to Petersburg:
June I to July 13, 1864 356
CHAPTER XVIII.
Homeward Bound 080
PREFACE.
AT a meeting of the regimental association of the Thir-
teenth Massachusetts Volunteers, Dec. 13, 1892, the
writer was, by a unanimous vote, appointed historian of the
regiment. However unequal to the performance of such a
task one might feel nearly thirty years after the war, he
could not disregard an honor so flatteringly expressed.
In the preparation of this work I have attempted to give
an accurate statement of the regiment's whereabouts on each
day of its three years' service, with such details of its daily
experience as would convey a truthful picture of army life as
it appeared to the rank and file.
The opinions and judgments expressed are believed to
be those shared by a majority of the regiment during its ser-
vice. As we were no wiser than the rest of mankind at
eighteen to twenty years of age, some of the statements may
seem very crude in the light of present information. What
we thought at the time, about events in which we took part,
is of more value to the future historian than what we may
now think about the same events or persons.
Elaborate accounts of campaigns have been omitted as not
coming within the sphere of a regimental history. In those
instances where an explanation seemed necessary for a proper
understanding of our movements, I have quoted from books
(vii)
viii PREFACE.
which are generally accepted as authority, in preference to
statements of my own.
The material placed at my disposal is as follows: The
diaries of Lieut. William R. Warner, Samuel D. Webster,
Lieut. Edward F. Rollins, Lieut. Robert B. Henderson, and
Sergeant William M. Coombs. None of the diaries covered
all the time, but those of Messrs. Warner, Webster, and Rol-
lins were the most complete ; those of Messrs. Henderson and
Coombs included the Mine Run and Wilderness campaigns.
Col. Charles H. Hovey made copies of such parts of all his
letters as related to our movements during his presence with
the regiment. The regimental books, papers, and maps were
turned over to me by Col. Samuel H. Leonard. The "War
Records " which are in progress of publication by the gov-
ernment have been of great service in settling disputed points.
I have derived information from other comrades, whom I
have met from time to time, chief among whom is Sergeant
Jeremiah P. Blake. In addition to the material furnished me
by Lieutenant Rollins, I cheerfully acknowledge the valuable
assistance I have received from him in other ways.
At the adjutant-general's office I have received every
courtesy and privilege I could wish. I have personally com-
pared the name of every man in the regiment with the record
in possession of the State. Where the difference was trivial I
have adhered to the regimental book ; in cases where there has
been a considerable difference I have made careful inquiries
before accepting either statement. As an additional safe-
guard against error I have submitted the record of each com-
pany to one or more members thereof for examination before
PREFACE. ix
sending the list to the printer. In spite of all these precau-
tions, inaccuracies, no doubt, will appear. About three
hundred and seventy-five comrades have furnished me with a
statement of their service, and that I have accepted in all
cases as being correct.
It was thought that a series of maps showing the route of
march of the regiment, — the direction being indicated by-
arrows, — and the relative position of towns mentioned in the
text, might aid the reader. They were plotted by the writer
and submitted to Sergeant Coombs, who put them into their
present shape. While they reflect credit on his skill as a
draughtsman, he is not responsible for any errors they may
contain. It should be borne in mind that the maps are not
drawn to scale, as such a labor was deemed unnecessary for
our purpose.
In sincerely thanking all those comrades who have aided
me in my labor, I ought not to forget the kindly services of
Dr. Samuel A. Green, surgeon of the Twenty-fourth Massa-
chusetts Volunteers, who has taken a great interest in the
progress of the work, and whose advice and assistance have
been of great value.
CHARLES E. DAVIS. Jr.
Boston, November i, 1893.
Note. The design on the front cover is a facsimile of our monument at
Gettysburg.
ORGANIZATION.
'X'HE present generation has no conception of the consternation
* that prevailed among the people of the North when the start-
ling news was received that Fort Sumter had been fired upon. It
aroused the patriotic indignation of the community to the highest
pitch of excitement.
Up to this time most people were sceptical about the possibili-
ties of a war. Threats of secession had often been made before,
by politicians of the South, without being carried into effect. The
feeling of hatred that existed toward the North was not fully
appreciated except by a comparatively small number of persons.
Although the air was filled with rumors of war, they were generally
believed to be nothing more than the irrepressible mutterings of dis-
gruntled politicians. Therefore, when the announcement was made
that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, it awoke the public mind to
a realization that rebellion and secession were at hand. Public
meetings were held in every town and city. Resolves were passed
condemning the outrage, coupled with an expression of determina-
tion to avenge the insult to the national flag.
Such a display of bunting in Boston was never seen before.
Across every street, at the mastheads of vessels lying in the harbor,
in the horse-cars and on express-wagons, and upon private houses
could be seen the American flag floating in the breeze; and, in-
deed, every opportunity was taken to give expression to the prevail-
ing sentiment by displaying the national emblem.
On the 14th of April Fort Sumter surrendered. On the isth a
telegram was received by Governor Andrew to forward two regi-
ments, and on the same day the following communication was sent
to the Secretary of War :
(xi)
xii ORGANIZATION.
Boston, April 15, 1861.
To Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War :
Sir : I have received telegrams from yourself and Brigadier-General Thomas,
admonishing me of a coming requisition for twenty companies of sixty-four pri-
vates each; and I have caused orders to be distributed to bring the men into
Boston before to-morrow night, and to await orders. Allow me to urge the issue
of an order to the Springfield (Mass.) Armory, to liouiie the production of arms
at once, and to push the work to the utmost. If any aid by way of money or
credit is needed from Massachusetts, I hope to be at once apprised. An extra
session of our General Court can be called immediately, if need be; and, if called,
it will respond to any demand of patriotism.
And I beg you would permit, in addition to suggesting the utmost activity at
the Springfield Armory, to urge that the armory at Harper's Ferry be discon-
tinued, and its tools, machinery, and works be transferred elsewhere, or else that
it be rigidly guarded against seizure, of the danger of which I have some premo-
nitions. If any more troops will certainly be needed from Massachusetts, please
signify it at once, since I should prefer receiving special volunteers for active militia
to detailing any more of our present active militia, especially as many most ef-
ficient gentlemen would like to raise companies or regiments, as the case may be,
and can receive enlistments of men who are very ready to serve.
Allow me also to suggest that our forts in Boston Harbor are entirely un-
manned. If authorized, I would put a regiment into the forts at any time.
Two of my staff spent last Saturday in making experiments of the most satisfac-
tory character with Shenkle's new invention in projectiles; and so extraordinary
was the firing that I have directed eighteen guns to be rifled, and projectiles to be
made. May I commend this invention to the examination of the United States
Government ?
I am happy to add that I find the amplest proof of a warm devotion to the
country's cause on every hand to-day. Our people are alive.
Yours,
JOHN A. ANDREW.
On the morning of the i6th, companies of the departing regi-
ments began to arrive in Boston. The fife and the drum which were
heard in our streets continued daily, for four years, to sound the
stirring notes of martial music.
The 19th of April, which is one of the days sacred to American
history, on account of the battle of Lexington, this year received an
additional interest from the events that were transpiring. It was
celebrated by the ringing of bells, flag-raisings and speeches, a drill
on Boston Common by one of the artillery companies, and at noon
by the firing of one hundred guns in honor of the day.
ORGANIZATION. xm
While the people were thus actively engaged in celebrating the
day, news was received that the Sixth Regiment had been attacked
in the streets of Baltimore. The most intense excitement followed.
Men gathered in groups about the streets, while crowds surrounded
the bulletin boards of the newspapers to learn the particulars.
If anything, was needed to arouse the patriotism of the North, it
had now occurred. Public meetings were held in various parts of
the city. Merchants, lawyers, physicians, and members of other
professions met, and offers of service and money were proffered
for the use of the State. Large loans were generously offered by the
Boston banks and by the banks of other cities, for the State's imme-
diate use, trusting to the honor of the Legislature to reimburse them,
when it met. Numerous offers of money were made to the Gov-
ernor by private individuals, as aid to soldiers' families. Nor were
women lagging behind the men in enthusiasm. Rich and poor,
high and low, all offered their services for the preparation of band-
ages and lint, the making of garments, attendance in hospitals, or
any other service compatible with their sex.
Business seemed, for the time, to be forgotten in the excitement.
The minds of men were too much disturbed to give proper attention
to other matters. Only one subject possessed the public mind, —
to protect the government from the clutches of traitorous hands.
It was under the influence of these patriotic demonstrations, as
exhibited in all the cities and towns of Massachusetts during the first
months of the war, that our regiment was enrolled. Many of the
young men who left lucrative positions were guaranteed them on
their return, by their employers. The generous impulses of all were
awakened by the danger that threatened the country.
The first four companies. A, B, C, and D, were known as the
Fourth Battalion of Rifles, and were raised in Boston.
On the 2 1 St of September, 182 1, Governor John Brooks, on the
petition of John S. Tyler and others, authorized the formation of a
military company ^n the then town of Boston, and this company
was called the Boston City Greys, subsequently changed to the
Boston City Guards, by which name it was known at the breaking
out of the war. It passed through the various vicissitudes of
XIV ORGANIZATION.
military companies until the year i860. In the month of July of
that year, a committee consisting of James A. Fox, W. F. Davis, D,
H. Bradlee, N. S. Dearborn, and A. N. Sampson were appointed to
nominate a captain and third and fourth lieutenants to fill vacancies
caused by resignations.
At this time the company had been reduced in numbers so that it
was felt to be highly important that a man should be selected as captain
whose reputation as an officer would invite young men to enlist under
his command. The "Boston Light Infantry (Tigers)," the "New
England Guards," and the " Boston City Guards" formed a part of
the Second Massachusetts Militia Regiment. Boston was an exception
to the large cities of the country in not having a regiment of its own.
The Second Regiment, Massachusetts militia, was commanded by
Col. Robert Cowdin, and consisted of only seven companies.
Samuel H. Leonard having transferred his residence from Worces-
ter to Boston, was obliged to resign his commission as brigadier-
general, as an officer could not hold a commission outside the limits
of the district where he resided.
He was an officer of wide reputation as one of the most skilful and
thorough drill-masters in the State. It had long been a scheme of
his to form a rifle battalion of which he should have the command.
At musters and parades a rifle battalion had the right of the line,
except when the Boston or Salem Cadets were present ; hence the
particular interest in a rifle battalion.
The committee appointed by the Boston City Guards waited on
General Leonard and offered him the captaincy of their company.
He accepted the compliment thus offered, upon the condition that
they would agree to enlist a second company, to be joined with the
City Guards, thus forming a battalion, and changing the arms from
muskets to rifles. This was agreed to, and General Leonard peti-
tioned the Governor and Council to set off the City Guards from
the Second Regiment for this purpose, and authority was given him
to form a rifle battalion, using that company as a nucleus thereof.
The City Guards was called Company A in the new battalion, and
on the 15th of December, i860, proceeded to an election of officers,
with the following result :
ORGANIZATION.
XV
Captain . . .
First Lieutenant .
Second Lieutenant
Third Lieutenant
Fourth Lieutenant
Samuel H. Leonard,
James A. Fox.
William F. Davis.
Charles S. Chandler.
George H. Bush.
Immediately following this election, privates Thomas J. Little
and Augustus N. Sampson, with fifty-one others, petitioned the
Governor and Council for leave to form a new company, which was
subsequently known as Company B. As soon as a sufficient number
of men had been enlisted, an election of officers was had, resulting
as follows, the election taking place on the 29th of March, 1861 ;
Captain . . .
First Lieutenant .
Second Lieutenant
Third Lieutenant
Fourth Lieutenant
N. Walter Batchelder.
Joseph S. Cary.
David H. Bradlee.
John G. Hovey.
Augustus N. Sampson.
On the 23d of April, Lieutenant Bradlee having been elected
adjutant of the battalion, Horace T. Rockwell was elected Fourth
Lieutenant and Messrs. Hovey and Sampson were each promoted.
While this work was going on John Kurtz and others were en-
gaged in recruiting a third company, which was subsequently known
as Company C, with an election of officers which occurred on the
29th of April, 1 86 1, as follows :
Captain . . .
First Lieutenant .
Second Lieutenant
Third Lieutenant
Fourth Lieutenant
John Kurtz.
William H. Jackson.
William M. Chase.
Joseph S. Cook.
Walter H. Judson.
Company D was organized as follows :
After the Mexican War a military company was formed composed
of veterans who had served in Massachusetts regiments during that
Xvi ORGANIZATION.
period. The company took the name " Massachusetts Volunteers,"
and was attached to the First Regiment of Infantry M.V.M., as
Company L, Captain Ben: Perley Poore. After two years had
passed, it was found necessary, if the company was to continue, to
change its by-laws so as to admit to membership others than those
who had served in that war. It was then voted to take men who had
served not less than one year in the volunteer militia of the State ;
at the same time changing the name of the company to " National
Guard.' In the spring of 1854, Augustine Harlow was elected
captain, and served as such until July, i860, when he resigned.
April 15, 186 1, he was requested to form a new company, and
he proceeded at once to do so. The free use of a room in the
Adams House was granted him by the proprietors, and in a few days
the required number of names was obtained for organization, which
was completed by the election of the following officers :
Captain . . .
First Lieutenant .
Second Lieutenant
Third Lieutenant
Fourth Lieutenant
Augustine Harlow.
Samuel N. Chamberlain.
William H. Cary.
Charles H. Hovey.
James H. Mayo.
It should be borne in mind that in raising these companies
the impetus given to enlistments by the startling events already de-
scribed made it quite easy to obtain all the men needed to complete
the organizations to the maximum number required. As a matter
of fact, so many men offered to enlist that it was decided to accept
only those who were voted in and who were willing to pay ^12.50.
This sum, added to moneys received by subscription, was expended
in the purchase of uniforms, each man being measured to ensure
their fitting. The jacket was tight-fitting, with a short skirt. The
shoulder-knots and trimmings were red, and the uniform gray. The
cap was gray trimmed with scarlet and surmounted with a pompon.
It made a handsome, serviceable uniform, and gave a very effective
appearance to the battalion.
As some time elapsed before the uniforms were finished, we were
ORGANIZATION. XVll
daily drilled in citizen's clothes at the armory, then at 344 Washing-
ton Street, but now (1893) 576. We were taken out on the streets
every day and taught to march in step, to the no small amusement
of boys who gathered about to watch our transformation from raw
recruits to soldiers. The people, however, were in earnest, and
every encouragement was offered to young men to enlist. At this
time every man was looked upon as a hero who enlisted.
The armory at 344 Washington Street being too small to accom-
modate so large a number of men, Nassau Hall, corner of Washing-
ton and Common Streets, was procured, and our effects transferred
to that building. Here we found a commodious hall well fitted for
drilling, and hours were spent each day by squads of raw recruits in
attempting to order arms in unison. It seemed so easy a thing to
do when the order was given, that we were at a loss to understand
why each gun should fall at a separate moment, making a clatter
like the rattle of a drum, sorely trying the patience of our drill-
masters. " Now, the next time I give an order I want you to follow
my count. • Shoulder arms ! one, two, three ! ' That's better."
"Present arms I one, two." Then it was, "Forward, march! one,
two ; one, two, halt! " " About /ace ! Forward, march ! one, two ;
one, two." " Mark time, march ! one, two ; one, two, halt! "
It seemed extraordinary that it took so much time in learning to •
do these simple things together, yet it took days and days before we
could make a creditable appearance in public. It seemed very odd
to us, that, having acquired a reasonable degree of proficiency under
one officer, we could do nothing but bungle under the commands of
another, until we realized how rare was a drill-master who could
infuse into men the precision necessary for good soldiers.
As soon as we acquired skill enough to " order arms " together, we
longed for the time when we could march through the streets in our
uniforms. With a month's continuous daily work, we naturally felt
that we would make a fine appearance as we paraded through the
streets. Just prior to the war the people of Boston had an opportu-
nity of witnessing the wonderful skill exhibited by Ellsworth's
zouaves. The remarkable exactness and concert of their every
movement was never excelled by any body of men, and excited a
XVlll ORGANIZATION.
spirit of emulation among officers and soldiers in the vicinity of
Boston. Some of us whose heads were easily turned by our small
success began to think we had acquired a pretty good degree of
excellence in the manual of arms.
At last an order was received for us to take charge of Fort Inde-
pendence. We had been armed with the " Winsor " rifle, a heavy,
bungling arm to which was attached a sabre bayonet, so extraordinary
in appearance as to give to another company, commanded by Cap-
tain Dodd, and armed with the same rifle, the name of " Dodd's
carvers." When the bayonet was affixed it certainly did suggest the
sanguinary operation of carving.
Company E.
Company E, known as the Roxbury Rifles, was organized about
the 2Sth of April, 1861, by the election of Dennis S. Bartlett as cap-
tain, Charles R. M. Pratt as first lieutenant, and Joseph Colburn as
second lieutenant. After its organization, the company was quar-
tered in Bacon's Hall, Roxbury, the boys obtaining their meals at a
restaurant near by. From this time on until Sunday, the 1 2th of
May, the company was daily drilled in citizen's clothes. On that
day tl\e company appeared for the first time in new uniforms fur-
nished by the State, and attended divine service at the Dudley-
street Baptist church, at completion of which service each man was
presented with a Tes]tament.
Drilling was continued daily without interruption until the company
joined the Fourth Battalion of Rifles, and with it went to Fort Inde-
pendence.
On the 2Sth of May the five companies, with knapsacks, blankets,
etc., marched down State Street to the wharf, where they took the
steamer " Nelly Baker " for the fort, and where they arrived in due
time.
It was a joyous day, though cloudy. We were puffed up with pride
and importance at our new responsibility and the knowledge that we
were to relieve the New England Guards, who had been garrisoning
the fort for a fortnight. The New England Guards was one of the
crack organizations of Massachusetts, of which the citizens of Bos-
ORG A NIZA TION. XIX
ton were justly proud. It subsequently became the nucleus of the
Twenty-fourth Regiment, that left Massachusetts for the seat of war
December 9, 1861, and afterward made a glorious record.
As we marched into the fort, that battalion was drawn up in line
to receive us. As we watched with admiration the precision and
skill with which they performed their movements, we shed a big lot
of conceit.
The duties of a soldier began immediately on their departure.
We were in possession of a fortification of the United States, and the
responsibilities seemed immense. We were to guard it, and see that
it was not stolen or captured by the enemy.
A detail was made from each company for guard duty, and the
writer began at once the tremendous duties of a soldier. Being
placed on the extreme southern point of the island, nearest the
enemy, he was cautioned to watch carefully, that the enemy might
not come up the harbor without warning being given of his ap-
proach. There seemed nothing ridiculous in all this ; the caution
was given and received in all earnestness. These instructions were
the first and, so far as can be recalled, the only ones he ever re-
ceived, and they made a deep impression on his mind. We often
laughed afterwards as we reflected on the difference between this
and the reality, though it was real enough to us then. Not a wink
did some of us sleep that night. The responsibility was too great
for sleep.
Morning came at last, beautiful and bright, with the fort still safe.
As the men turned out of their quarters, in the morning air, to fold
their bright red blankets, it was indeed a picturesque sight. The
battalion companies were quartered in the fort, while the Roxbury
Rifles were quartered in barracks outside.
During our stay at the fort, Sundays were visiting days, and the
duties light, so we had ample time to devote to the friends who came
to see us Visitors were also admitted on other days of the week ;
but they were nof allowed to interfere with our duties. We drilled
seven hours each day during the week, besides guard-mounting and
dress parade.
Major Leonard, who was in command of the battalion, was known
XX ORGANIZATION.
long before he became a brigadier-general in the State militia by
his superior qualifications as a drill-master, and he was possessed
with the determination to show what he could do with raw recruits.
After dress parade our work was done for the day, except the
roll-call at tattoo, when we were obliged to fall in line and answer
to our names. We then had a half-hour to complete our arrange-
ments for the night, when " taps " were sounded for the lights to be
put out, which was a signal for us to go to sleep. Sleep rarely came
before midnight, however, owing to the noise which began the
moment the lights were extinguished. It frequently happened that
the " Officer of the day " would interrupt the noise by telling us to
"Go to sleep ! " which had the very opposite effect. We had great
larks in those days, and played all the pranks in the calendar. Some
of the boys whose quarters adjoined the sally-port would listen at
the nearest casemate to hear the countersign repeated as some one,
passing in or out of the fort, would give it to the sentinel, when a
mock " grand rounds " would be organized and each post visited,
the guard being scolded for some imaginary neglect, and ordered to
report to his captain in the morning. The hours of the night were
called by the sentinel on each post as he heard the bells striking in
the city, adding "All's well ! " The guard on the ramparts of the
fort frequently, sticking his head in one of the chimneys, would yell,
" And the wind north-east, and it blows like h — 1 ! " which, of course,
would wake up every man in the room, bringing the officer of the
guard to the quarters to quell the disturbance. The guard, by means
of the chimney, would warn the occupants of the officer's approach,
whereupon he was sure to be greeted with a loud and continuous
snore ; the guard in the meantime stealing along to the other side
of the ramparts, a safe distance from the confusion.
Until the 29th of June we lived well, having our own cook, plenty
to eat, and a ration of beer served us each day. It was the custom
to detail a man from each mess to draw the allowance of food, and
whoever possessed ability to get the greatest quantity of food for the
smallest number of men was sure to receive a large amount of praise
and popularity. It was a talent more highly appreciated than any
other accomplishment.
ORGANIZATION. xxi
Each morning we were awakened by the veteran drummer, " Dan
Simpson," and " Si Smith," the fifer. " Old Si," as we called him,
looked as though he was left over from the crusades, so thin and
worn with age he appeared. Both of these veterans could date their
service back to the War of 1812. At five o'clock in the morning
they would come out to the sally-port, and after wrangling a bit (for
it should be known that the lapse of time had not improved their
tempers) they would sound the reveille which turned us out to
answer to roll-call. Smith weighed about seventy-five pounds, though
he didn't look it. His coat-sleeve, which seemed no larger round
than a baby's arm, was covered with service stripes from wrist to
shoulder. In spite of his attenuated figure, he managed to get wind
enough to make his old fife sound as clear as a bell. " Good morn-
ing. Si ! " would be heard as the boys turned out. " How's your
old friend. Miles Standish? "
In addition to these venerable relics from " Ye olden time " we
had four musicians from the " Germania Band," who provided us
with music at guard mounting and at dress parade.
One of the features of the day's work was " dress parade," at
sunset ; at which time we turned out in full uniform to take our posi-
tion in line. It was the custom, during this ceremony, to lower the
flag on the fort, the band playing while it was being done. One of
the airs which the band played was from the " opera of Grenada."
To this air the boys fitted the following words : " Corporal of the
guard, corporal of the guard, corporal of the guard, post eight."
This never lost its popularity with us. It was carried into service by
our regimental band, and was frequently played by it, always awak-
ening pleasant recollections of our service at the fort. After the
band was discharged, which occurred early in September, 1862, we
heard it no more until our arrival home.
Thus passed the days until the 29 th of June, when the State sent
to the fort five more companies : two from Marlboro', one from
Natick, one from Westboro', and one from Stoneham.
The addition of these companies made no difference in our drill-
ing, which was pursued relentlessly.
We drifted along until the " Fourth of July" without excitement.
xxii ORGANIZATION.
except that which was provided us by our friends on visiting days.
P"ormerly it was the custom of the city authorities of Boston to cel-
ebrate the " Fourth " by an annual parade of the city government.
Our services were oifered and accepted as escort, in company with
the " Tigers " and the " New England Guards," and we looked for-
ward with anticipations of pleasure and pride at the opportunity,
thus afforded, of showing the result of our work.
We were up early the morning of the " Fourth " brushing clothes,
blacking boots, and making other preparations for the day's jubilee.
We were well tanned by constant exposure to the sun, giving
appearance of health and vigor, our uniforms fitting perfectly, with
the addition of white collars, and our guns and bayonets in excellent
order, so that we made a very satisfactory appearance. As we stood
in line inside the fort, we all felt how much was at stake in compet-
ing with the two battalions with whom we were to parade. We
were told to eat a hearty breakfast, for we had a hard day's work
before us ; but what a breakfast that was, and what murmurs of in-
dignation were expressed as we flung the mouldy toast and the mild
dilution of coffee at the cook-room ! It was too unsavory for us, so
we went without it, though the time came, months after, whmi we
wished that we might have some of that same toast.
We were escorted to the boat by the other companies of the regi-
ment, who expressed their generous wishes for our success. They
were quite as anxious for our credit as we were, and the hearty
cheers that were given as the boat left the wharf testified the good
feeling that existed, and which continued during the whole three
years of our service, and indeed has never ceased to exist.
Upon our arrival in Boston it became known that we had come
to town without a breakfast, and while halting in front of the Parker
House kind friends supplied the deficiency. All along the route of
seven miles we were greeted with demonstrations of great kindness
and hospitality. It was a day never to be forgotten. The enthusi-
asm of the people excited us to do our best, and we never did better.
Our two months of constant daily drilling enabled us to make a very
creditable appearance. The enthusiasm with which we were every-
where greeted was due to the fact that we were part of a regiment
ORGANIZATION. xxm
soon to leave for the seat of war ; for at that time the patriotic feel-
ing was at its whitest heat. It was a hot day, the thermometer at
104 ; but our daily work out of doors enabled us to make the march
with the loss of only one or two men, while the other battalions
suffered much more than we did from the intense heat.
After the parad.e we were furloughed until the following morning,
when the battalion returned to the fort to meet the kindly greeting
of the companies who were already aware of the success achieved
by the five companies, through the newspapers, which were extrava-
gant in their words of praise.
While the battalion companies, so called, were doing escort duty
for the city of Boston, Company E, which went to the city in the
same boat, was entertaining the people of Roxbury with an exhibi-
tion of its proficiency. The members were received with the same
demonstrations of enthusiasm as greeted the battalion, and were
given a dinner at the Norfolk House.
We were young boys then, and these events seemed great in our
lives, though what followed was far greater in importance and mag-
nitude.
The remaining companies of the regiment were organized as
follows :
Company F.
Company F had the honor of being the oldest chartered company
in the regiment. It was organized in 18 19 as the Marlboro' Rifles,
and continued its organization without interruption until it became
a part of the Thirteenth Regiment. During all this time its armory
was located in the town of Marlboro'.
For several years prior to 186 1 it was known as Company A,
First Battalion of Rifles, the other companies being Company B
from Sudbury and Company C from Natick ; the latter being as-
signed to the Thirteenth and known as Company H. The battalion
was commanded by Major Ephraim Moore, of Sudbury. Major
Moore died in March, 1861, and was succeeded by Captain Henry
Whitcomb, of the Marlboro' Rifles, who was elected major of the
battalion.
xxiv OROANIZATION.
On the 2Sth of June the First Battalion of Rifles was ordered to
Fort Independence.
The Sudbury Company was disbanded.
The officers of the Marlboro' Company, which became Company
F, were :
Captain Abel H. Pope.
First Lieutenant John T. Whittier.
Second Lieutenant Charles F. Mokse.
Fourth Lieutenant Donald Ross.
Company G.
In the early days of April the citizens of Stoneham took measures
for raising a company, and by the seventeenth of that month it was
recruited to its full number. J. Parker Gould was chosen to the
captaincy, which he retained until the departure of the regiment to
the seat of war, when he was appointed major in the regiment. Eben
W. Fiske was commissioned captain in his place. Although the
company was ready thus early, such was the eagerness of the people
to spring to their country's defence, that the different companies
could not be accepted as fast as they were offered, and it was not
until the zsth of June that it was ordered into service at Fort Inde-
pendence.
During the time it was waiting to join some regiment the town of
Stoneham liberally contributed to its support, appropriating nearly
four thousand five hundred dollars for that purpose. A uniform was
also presented to each man at a cost of twelve dollars, and a full set
of equipments to each of the officers, by the citizens.
On its departure for Fort Independence hundreds of citizens
volunteered as escort.
Company H.
In the early part of 1859 the young men of Natick formed an
independent company, with Henry Wilson, who had been a brigadier-
general in the militia, as captain and instructor. Captain Wilson's
senatorial duties calling him to Washington in December of that
ORGANIZATION. XXV
year, he was succeeded by Lieut. Charles Bigelow, who was subse-
quently chosen as captain. The company was regularly drilled until
the summer of i860, when a charter was granted by the State, where-
upon it was assigned to the First Battalion of Rifles as Company C.
It attended the annual muster at Chelmsford in September of that
year, and took part in the parade of the militia, on Boston Com-
mon, in October following, in honor of the Prince of Wales.
When the call of Governor Andrew was made in the spring of '61,
it oflFered its services for three years, and on the 2Sth of June went
to Fort Independence with the First Battalion of Rifles. It was
commanded by Perry D. Chamberlain, with Frank Z. Jenks as first
lieutenant, and William H. Brown as second lieutenant. It became
Company H of the Thirteenth, with William L. Clark as captain.
Company I.
In response to the call of Governor Andrew, Messrs. Moses P.
Palmer, William Barnes, David L. Brown, Samuel D. Witt, Alfred G.
Howe, Frank Stetson, and others, proceeded to form a second com-
pany in Marlboro', and enlistment papers were procured from the
State for that purpose. In a few days the signatures of ninety-eight
of the best young men in Marlboro' and vicinity were obtained,
and on the 6th of May the company was organized by the choice
of the following officers :
Captain Moses P. Palmer.
First Lieutenant David L. Brown.
Second Lieutenant Alfred G. Howe.
Third Lieutenant Samuel D. Witt.
Fourth Lieutenant Samuel W. Fay.
On the loth of May the committee appointed for the purpose
reported a constitution and by-laws, which were unanimously
adopted. The preamble was as follows :
We who have enrolled our names upon the volunteer militia enlistment roll of
Massachusetts, and have organized ourselves into a company of riflemen agreeably
to the laws of the State, say, one and all, that whereas a certain portion of our
XXVI ORGANIZATION.
countrymen have rebelled and have taken up arms against our constitutional
government and have refused to obey its just laws, under which they, as well as
we, have enjoyed so many blessings, that we have so acted because we fully be-
lieve it to be our duty, which we owe to our country, to humanity, and to God;
and we further say that we pledge our fortunes and our sacred honor to help
maintain and defend the flag of our glorious Union from traitors at home or foes
from abroad; and we do agree to do and submit to such orders, rules, and regula-
tions as the law requires, and such as shall be adopted by the company from time
to time.
On the 20th of May the company voted unanimously to offer their
sftrvices to the United States for three years or during the war.
The town of Marlboro' furnished all the members of the company
with a good gray uniform, and HoUis Loring, Esq., gave the com-
pany the use of a hall in the Exchange Building, free of all charge.
The months of May and June were spent in drilling and preparing
for service.
The company was assigned to the Second Battalion of Riflemen,
but shortly after was ordered to report for duty at Fort Indepen-
dence, which it did on the 25 th of June, and became Company I, of
the Thirteenth.
Company K.
Company K was raised in Westboro', and was known as the
Westboro' Rifle Company.
On the 17 th of April, 1861, a warrant was issued by G. B. San-
born, B. B. Nourse, and S. B. Howe, selectmen of the town, calling
for a town meeting to be held on the 2Sth of the same month, for
the appropriation of money to be expended for the raising of a mil-
itary company in the town. In accordance with this call the meet-
ing was held, and T. A.. Smith, C. P. Winslow, J. F. B. Marshall,
Benjamin Boynton, and John Bowes were chosen a committee to
consider the matter of raising a company and to report the amount
necessary to defray the expenses thereof; whereupon they presented
the following resolutions :
Resolved, That the town appropriate five thousand dollars, to be expended in
the purchase" of uniforms, pay of men while drilling, and for pay in addition to
the amount paid by the Government, when called into active service.
ORGANIZATION. XXVU
Resolved, That a committee of five be chosen, whose duty it shall be to attend
to the expenditure and disbursement of all moneys hereby appropriated; and no
bills shall be contracted for or paid without the approbation and approval of said
committee.
These resolutions were unanimously adopted, and an appropria-
tion of five thousand dollars made in accordance therewith.
A committee, consisting of G. B. Sanborn, B. B. Nourse, and S.
B. Howe, selectmen, and J. F. B. Marshall and Patrick Casey, was
then appointed and empowered to raise a company. This commit-
tee organized by the choice of B. B. Nourse as chairman and J. F.
B. Marshall as secretary.
The work of recruiting was begun at once, and by the 29th of
April a list of seventy-nine names was obtained, when a petition was
presented to the Governor and Council asking for a charter for a
company, to be called the Westboro' Rifle Company, and the same
was granted. Before going into camp, information was received
that the Government would not accept any more volunteers for
three months' service. The company was then reorganized with a
view to enlisting for three years. By this change the company lost
about half its number, but from day to day recruits were added, so
that when the time arrived for its departure it had one hundred and
one men, classified as follows: Westboro' furnished fifty-six men;
Southboro', eighteen ; Upton, nine ; Shrewsbury, nine ; Hopkinton,
eight ; and Northboro', one.
The work of drilling was carried on daily, and marches made to
surrounding towns, where the company was entertained by sump-
tuous dinners and patriotic speeches.
In the meantime the work of preparing uniforms was undertaken
by the women.
On the 26th of April, the day following the town meeting, another
meeting was held in the Town Hall to organize a " Soldiers' Sew-
ing Society." After prayer by the Rev. Mr. Cummings of the
Unitarian Church, Mr. Marshall explained the objects of the meet-
ing, whereupon it was voted to organize the society by the choice
of Mrs. E. M. Phillips as president and Miss J. M. Marshall as
secretary. Mrs. J. F. B. Marshall, Mrs. S. B. Lakin, Mrs. A. N.
xxviii ORGANIZATION.
Arnold, Mrs. J. A. Fayerweather, and Mrs. Salmon. Comstock were
chosen directors.
In accordance with a notice read in all the churches on the pre-
vious Sunday, two hundred ladies with needles, thimbles, etc.,
met in the Town Hall Tuesday morning, April 30, and began the
work of making garments, and in a few hours they had made four
dozen flannel shirts and four dozen pairs of drawers, which were
immediately distributed.
As it was important that the company be provided with uniforms,
*e ladies of this society devoted their energies to the accomplish-
ment of this task, and by the 20th of June the work was completed.
In addition to the uniform, each man was provided with a fatigue-
suit, havelock, thread -bag, towels, handkerchief, soap, and comb.
Calvin Chamberlain, a resident of California, a native of West-
boro', showed his interest in the company's welfare by presenting
each member with a dagger, while the Hon. William Knowlton pro-
vided each man with a drinking-tube. It reported at Fort Inde-
pendence, under the command of the following officers :
Captain . . .
First Lieutenant .
Second Lieutenant
Third Lieutenant
Fourth Lieutenant
Rev. WiLUAM P. BlACKMER.
Charles P. Winslow.
Ethan Bullard.
John W. Sanderson.
Abner R. Greenwood.
On the 1 6th of July the regiment was mustered into the United
States service for three years, and on the 29th of the same month it
left Fort Independence for the seat of war.
DEPARTURE.
A N interesting fact connected with the flags carried by the regi-
'*■ ment ought not to be omitted. At the breaking out of the war
the firm of Hogg, Brown, & Taylor were doing business in Boston.
Like other firms it took a deep interest in the welfare of soldiers,
and contributed liberally to their comfort whenever opportunity
offered. On our departure, this firm, in addition to the colors pro-
vided by the State, presented us with a duplicate set of colors, and
from time to time, as they became worn out, they furnished others
to take their place.
[From the " Boston Daily Journal," July 30, 1861.]
DEPARTURE OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT — RECEPTION BY THE SECOND
BATTALION AND OLD CITV GUARDS — COLLATION IN FANEUIL HALL.
The Thirteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, Colonel Leonard, be-
ing the eighth regiment of three years' troops which Massachusetts has sent to
the war, tooli its final departure for Washington this afternoon.
The admiration and affection of a whole community has been centred upon the
young men of this regiment, the nucleus of which, the Fourth Battalion of Rifles,
was recruited in our midst from the families of our most respected citizens. It is
no disparagement to the members and officers of the battalion to say that the
companies from the country, which have been added to the regiment, are equally
meritorious and deserving of popular regard.
No pains have been spared to make the Thirteenth equal, if not superior, to any
regiment which has left the State. They have a full, neat, and serviceable uni-
form, equipments which any soldier might be proud to wear, and an arm — the
Enfield rifle musket — which has been pronounced by the officers of the regi-
ment to be the most delicate, highly finished, and defensible weapon in the in-
fantry service.
ARRIVAL OF THE REGIMENT IN BOSTON.
The regiment, which has been quartered at Fort Independence, came up to the
city on the steamer " Nelly Baker," the boat making two special trips for the
purpose. She arrived at the foot of Long Wharf at a quarter before one o'clock,
(xxix)
XXX DEPARTURE.
bringing Companies B, C, F. I, and K, under command of Major Gould, and then
returned for the remainder of the regiment, which was finaUy landed m the city
at a quarter past two.
As each detachment of troops left the fort, bidding adieu to quarters which have
been the scene of so much happiness, they were honored with a parting salute by
Sergeant Parr, the United States ordnance officer in charge of the post The
troops acknowledged the compliment with hearty cheers.
THE ESCORT.
The courtesy of escorting the regiment through the city was accepted by
Colonel Leonard from the Second BattaUon of Infantry, Major Ralph W. Newton,
and the Old City Guard, and past members of the Fourth Battalion of Rifles under
Col. Jonas H. French. The two corps paraded as a. battalion, being accom-
panied by Gilmore's Band, and the Old Guard by the Boston Brigade Band. The
first troops which arrived remained under cover of the sheds, where they were
protected from the rain until their comrades reached the wharf, when the line
was formed and the regiment escorted up and down State Street, making the
detour of the Old State House, through Merchants Row to Faneuil HalL
THE COLLATION.
The hospitalities of the city we-e extended to the regiment by His Honor the
Mayor, in the form of a collation to have been served to the men on the Com-
mon; but the storm which prevailed interrupted the programme of the march and
collation, and the latter was laid on the table in the " Old Cradle of Liberty,"
which the regiment reached about three o'clock. Hastily partaking of » most
acceptable repast, the line was re-formed, and the regiment took up the line of
MARCH THROUGH THE CITY.
Nothing but the storm which prevailed all day prevented this regiment firom
receiving an ovation surpassing any which has been g^ven to the troops going
before it.
The social position of the members, the reputation which they have achieved
in drill and discipline, and the fact that a majority of the officers of the regiment
were representative members of some of our most popular organizations, grown
up and educated amongst us, — all these circumstances conspired to ensure the
regiment a most generous and enthusiastic demonstration.
The march through the city was accomplished under trying circumstances, the
condition of the streets harassing the troops, encumbered as they were with over-
coats and knapsacks. The route was through Merchants Row, up State and Wash-
ington Streets to the long freight depot of the Boston & Worcester Railroad, which
they entered out of Harvard Street. Instead of a " sea of heads," an ocean of
umbrellas filled the streets, surging with the increase from streams of anxious
spectators which poured in from every alley and by-way; and above the beating
DEPARTURE. xxxi
of drums and blast of horns arose the shouts of the people, cheering the brave
boys who have pledged their lives in the defence of the Union. What was lack-
ing in numbers was made up in enthusiasm by the people who lined the way.
Bouquets were showered in profusion upon the troops by loving hands whose
hearts went with floral tributes which they gave.
At the depot scenes occurred never to be forgotten. The fair friends of the
troops were in full possession of the place, and when the regiment filed into the
CEirs, the flying moments, which to the actors were as hours, were fraught with in-
cidents of self-sacrifice, of womanly devotion, and manly heroism which caused
the stoutest heart to quail and the sternest lip to quiver. There was no calling
back of husbands, sons, and brothers, no repining, but brave words of encourage-
ment, pious counsels, and motherly advice to the young and inexperienced volun-
teer as the final good-by and " God bless you" was spoken,
THE DEPARTURE.
The train left the depot at precisely five o'clock, amid the cheers of thousands
of people who filled the side tracks and covered the bridges under which the train
passed. The baggage-wagons and horses of the regiment were sent forward in
advance of the troops. In this latter respect the regiment fared as well as those
who have preceded it. The regiment carried with it two stands of color, consist-
ing of a State and a National flag, which were presented to them by the State
without ceremony, just as they were leaving the city.
THE REGIMENTAL ROSTER.
The following is a list of the officers of the regiment :
Colonel Samuel H. Leonard, of Boston.
Lieutenant-Colonel . . . N. Walter Batchelder, of Boston.
Major Jacob Parker Gould, of Stoneham.
Adjutant David H. Bradlee, of Boston.
Quartermaster George E. Craig, of Boston.
Surgeon Allston W. Whitney, of Boston.
Assistant Surgeon .... J. Theodore Heard, of Boston,
Chaplain NOAH M. Gaylord, of Boston.
Company A. — Captain, James A. Fox; First Lieutenant, Samuel N. Neat;
Second Lieutenant, George Bush.
Company B. — Captain, Joseph S. Cary; First Lieutenant, John G. Hovey;
Second Lieutenant, Augustus N. Sampson.
Company C. — Captain, John Kurtz; First Lieutenant, William H.Jackson;
Second Lieutenant, Walter H. Judson.
Company D. — Captain, Augustine Harlow; First Lieutenant, Charles H.
Hovey; Second Lieutenant, William H. Cary.
xxxii DEPARTUBE.
Company E. — Captain, Charles R. M. Pratt; First Lieutenant, Joseph Col-
burn; Second Lieutenant, Edwin R. Frost.
Company F. — Captain, Henry Whitcomb; First Lieutenant, Abel H.Pope;
Second Lieutenant, Charles F. Morse.
Company G. — Captain, Eben W. Fiske; First Lieutenant, Loring S. Richard-
son; Second Lieutenant, John Foley.
Company .ff; — Captain, William H. Qark; First Lieutenant, Perry D. Cham-
berlain; Second Lieutenant, Francis Jenks.
Company I. — Captain, Charles H. R. Schreiber; First Lieutenant, Moses P.
Palmer; Second Lieutenant, David Brown.
Company jT. — Captain, William P. Blackmer; First Lieutenant, William B.
Bacon; Second Lieutenant, Charles B. Fox.
ON THE ROAD.
After leaving the station of the Boston & Worcester Railroad the regiment was
greeted with cheers and fluttering handkerchiefs all along the route to Worcester.
The citizens of the towns on the road seemed to have been on the watch for the
train, and as the regiment went quickly past they improved the short time by the
most energetic demonstration of good-will. It was a considerable distance be-
yond the city that the members of the regiment took a last look of Boston friends.
Far out on the Back Bay lands were a considerable number of ladies and gentle-
men who seemed to vie with each other in their exertions to cheer the departing
soldiers. " Good-by, boys, — keep up the reputation of the Thirteenth," were
words earnestly impressed upon the minds of the men; and they promised to do
all in their power to answer the expectations of the friends of the regiment.
Every house near the railroad was 611ed with ladies, as the train passed through
Brighton, who flung their handkerchiefs back and forth, and seemed anxious to
be counted among the well-wishers of those who go to fight for our country.
Thus it was at Newton and Natick, and at the latter place large numbers were
collected at the railway station, as if desirous to have the train stop; but it whirled
past, and many relations of the Natick company were probably deprived of an op-
portunity to say a parting word to them. The first stop of the train was at
FRAMINGHAM.
As the train drew near, it was greeted with the booming of cannon and ringing
of bells. There were several thousand ladies and gentlemen gathered at the
station from Marlboro', Natick, and other adjoining towns, from which several
companies of the regiment came. A tarry of ten minutes was well improved by
the soldiers, many of whom were engaged in farewells to relatives; while others
improved the opportunity to replenish their canteens with what had been pro-
vided for them. Had there been - probability of longer stay, still further pro-
vision would have been made by the Framingham people for the comfort of the
soldiers. As it was, the reception was warm and enthusiastic, and the men left
DEPAETUBE. XXXlU
irith a renewed feeling of sadness for those left behind. The train arrived at
framingham at six o'clock, and at ten minutes past six it was again whirling
iway towards Worcester.
At Westboro', in which town Company K was organized, the speed of the train
ras slackened, and went through the village so slowly as to allow the citizens and
he soldiers to take leave of each other. The train then hurried on.
RECEPTION AT WORCESTER.
The regiment arrived in Worcester at half-past seven o'clock, while prepara-
ions had been made to give the soldiers a collation. This was prompted in part
}y the fact that Colonel Leonard was formerly a resident of that city, and has a
arge number of personal and warm friends there. The cars passed from Worces-
:er to Norwich Railroad, and stopped just beyond the Common. The regiment
;hen filed out and marched round to Main Street, where an escort was waiting to
receive them.
The escort consisted of several companies from the Fifteenth and Twenty-first
Regiments, as follows : Fifteenth Regiment, Company B, Capt. J. W. Kimball ;
Company E, Capt. Charles H. Watson; Company D, Capt. Charles H. Foster;
Company G, Capt. Walter Forsband. Of the Twenty-first: Company G, Capt.
A.ddison A. Walker; Company D, Lieut. C. S. Foster in command. The whole
ivas under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Ward, of the Fifteenth Regiment,
rhe regimental band of the latter regiment headed the escort.
The column marched up Main Street and returned to City Hall, where a
collation was in waiting. Main Street was crowded with people, but it was grow-
ing dark, and they did not have a good opportunity to see the regiment They
ivere, however, disposed to praise Colonel Leonard's command very highly.
THE COLLATION.
On account of the unfavorable weather the arrangements to prepare a collation
on the Common were changed, and the City Hall was taken for that purpose.
There was not as much room in this bujlding as was necessary for the whole
regiment, and in consequence but five companies were entertained at a time. The
collation was prepared liberally, under the supervision of a committee of the
citizens, who had received aid from the city government. In the hall were Major-
General Morse and staff and other prominent individuals, including the mayor of
the city. Colonel Leonard and staff were made to realize that they have a host of
friends in Worcester.
On the entrance of the colonel to the hall he was presented with a beautiful
bouquet by the ladies present. About an hour was consumed in the hall, when
the soldiers left and marched back to the cars under escort. At shortly before
half-past nine o'clock the train was again in motion, and it moved away amid the
drowning cheers of the multitude.
XXXiv DEPARTURE.
[From the " Boston Herald," July JO, 1861.]
The column marched up State Street at twenty minutes before three o'clock
around the Old State House, down State Street, and through Merchants Row t<
Faneuil Hall, where a collation was provided. State Street was filled with people
notwithstanding the storm, and on no other occasion has there been more enthu
siasm manifested. Cheers were repeatedly given for the Thirteenth, while around
Faneuil Hall there was also an immense crowd. Everybody desired to see some
body, and there was a perfect rush about the doors of the hall for admittance
The police were required, however, to keep all persons, except soldiers, from thf
hall, as a different course would only tend to unnecessarily delay the departure ol
the regiment. As the troops marched in, all sorts of patriotic airs were playec
by the band, and excited proper enthusiasm. When "Glory hallelujah" wai
reached the soldiers and crowd joined in the chorus, and no one within a half •<
mile of Dock Square, except a deaf person, could have any possible excuse foi
ignorance of the whereabouts of John Brown's bones or his ashes.
Very few besides the members of the regiment and the waiters were allowec
inside. Our reporter was one of the few civilians admitted, and he had to tak<
the oath of fealty, agree to behave, and promise to eat nothing. This was, o
course, a mere formality, with no reference to his habits. The soldiers were wear]
and hungry. They ate voraciously, and sat on the sanded floor, when no bettei
resting-place could be found. There was no profanity, no drunkenness — all
praise to officers and men for this. Notwithstanding their fatigue there was nc
hustling, no ill-natured remarks, and no criticism on the arrangements. The hal
was scarcely large enough for the accommodation of so large a body, but then
was no grumbling.
When the troops again sallied forth and were taken in charge by the escort th«
crowds were found to be greatly augmented. Every street on the route was
blocked up. The people readily fell back when possible, but some delay wai
occasionally caused. One continuous round of cheers was kept up from the timi
they left Dock Square till they halted in Oak Street.
The fine bearing of these troops excited comment at every point wl\ere the
were seen. Their uniform is the regulation style, and appears to be of excellen
quality. They all wore their blue overcoats as they marched up State Street, am
this gave a uniformity in appearance which was very pleasing. They marchec
with great precision, and executed all movements with more regularity and exact
ness than is generally noticed.
DEPAB.TXJBE. xxxv
[From the " New York Herald," July 31, 1861.]
TROOPS BOUND FOR THE SEAT OF WAR — THE THIRTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS
VOLUNTEERS EN ROUTE FOR THE SEAT OF WAR.
The Thirteenth Regiment of Massachusetts volunteers, under command of
Colonel Leonard, arrived in this city yesterday en route to the seat of war. The
regiment, which was organized in a great measure in the city of Boston, was en-
camped for some time at Fort Independence, in Boston Harbor, where they were
so well perfected in discipline that few regiments can compete with them in drill-
ing and manoeuvring. They struck their tents on Monday morning, and after a
short parade in Boston proceeded to this city by the Norwich & Worcester route,
and arrived about eleven o'clock yesterday. They were met at the steamboat
wharf by a deputation of citizens, natives of Massachusetts, wearing on their
breasts badges with the inscription " Sons of Massachusetts." These badges, as
also the banner carried by the " sons," were ornamented with the coat-of-arms of
the Bay State. The regiment then took up their line of march through Canal
Street and Broadway to the City Hall Park, where the men were dismissed for
dinner in the barracks and " a ramble about the city."
Shortly after four o'clock the regimental line was again formed, and the pro-
cession, preceded by the escort of citizens, marched down Broadway and around
Battery Place to pier No. i , where they embarked on board the steamboat " John
Potter," for Amboy. Their reception was a most magnificent one, and the ap-
plause of the populace was expressed at every step of the route in a continued
clapping of hands.
The Thirteenth Regiment is one of which Massachusetts may well be proud.
It is composed of a superior class of men. In physical appearance, soldier-like
bearing, and martial discipline, the regiment is perhaps unsurpassed. The mem-
bers generally belong to a higher social position than those composing most of
our regiments, and their enlistment has been a matter of pure patriotism, many
having left remunerative salaries and situations to go to the war. The uniform of
the regiment consists of a dark-blue loose jacket of flannel, light-blue cloth pants,
and regulation cap. They are all armed with the Enfield rifle.
NARRATIVE.
CHAPTER I.
"yHE Thirteenth Regiment left New York, Tuesday, July 30, 1861,
^ for Philadelphia in two trains, the first, containing the right
wing, arriving shortly after midnight, and the second, containing the
left wing, arriving shortly before daylight.
We were marched directly to the "Cooper shop," where ample
facilities were afforded for cleanliness, followed by a bountiful supply
of food.
Although it was July, 1861, William M. Cooper had already inau-
gurated that magnificent system of providing for soldiers on their
way to and from the front which became so widely known as the
"Cooper shop." For four years every soldier in the land knew
that if he could reach Philadelphia he would find a temporary home
that would bridge over his troubles until he could gain strength to
proceed on his journey. Troops on their way to the front, regard-
less of numbers, were entertained at this hospitable building. It
would be difficult to exaggerate the happiness and comfort conferred
by this patriotic undertaking.
At daylight we were formed in line and marched across the city
to West Philadelphia, where we halted until cars could be obtained
for our transportation to Harrisburg. On our way we met the Sixth
Massachusetts regiment and the Third Battalion of rifles returning
home, being transported in freight-cars. This seemed hard lines to
many of us who had been incited to enlist by the experience of the
Sixth in Baltimore. The boys themselves, however, seemed con-
tented and happy, as many a time afterward we would have been
had we even freight-cars to transport us.
It was a hot morning, and our knapsacks were loaded beyond
human endurance with things our kind but inexperienced friends at
home thought necessary for our comfort. Pounds soon became tons,
and when the regiment was granted a halt, knapsacks were opened
2 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
to see what could be thrown away without infringing on sentiments
of gratitude or lessening our comfort.
Before leaving Fort Independence we had as many as three Bibles
given us. As the last ones were received just before we started, no
opportunity was afforded of leaving them in the hands of friends
to keep until our return. Now the time had arrived when some-
thing had to go, so it was decided that extra stockings and shirts
were more useful than Bibles, and as we were provided with a chap-
lain, the Bible was discarded. This was the pretty universal opin-
ion of the boys, judging by the large number that remained on the
sidewalk as we resumed our march. A short time after, one of
the boys received a letter from a gentleman in Philadelphia in
which he expressed his admiration for the soldier who sought to
lessen his fatigue by reading the Holy Scriptures. "A letter from
Philadelphia" became a by-word for many months.
About 1 1 o'clock we left for Harrisburg, which point we reached a
little before sundown the same day. For some unexplained reason
we were unprovided with food, so that upon our arrival at the capital
of Pennsylvania, a grand rush was made for the nearest restaurants.
A few succeeded in procuring food, but the stay was too short to
enable many to get even a mouthful. Those who got anything were
lucky, and those who were paid for what was eaten were also lucky,
as the ringing of the engine bell and the commands of officers, like
those of Providence, must be obeyed ; and therefore we continued our
journey to Hagerstown, which place we reached about daylight, hav-
ing spent a rainy night in cars that for many years had enjoyed the
privacy and seclusion of a warm storehouse, where they had been
allowed to lie and shrink until it could be decided whether they
should be destroyed or sent to a country where the average mortality
was too great for the people to bother themselves about a railroad
accident.
The rain penetrating the cars made it impossible to sleep, while
they were so badly lighted as to leave us the only one thing to do
— growl. Hunger and loss of sleep, say nothing about weariness
from the excitement through which we had passed, brought out
all the irritable quaUties we possessed. The irritation disappeared.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 3
however, when it became known that we had arrived at Hagers-
town. On jumping from the cars we found the surface of the
ground to consist of red clay, made soft and sticky as glue by the
night's rain. Very soon the soles of our sTioes were increased to
twice their size, with an added weight that made it difficult to lift
our feet. As one of the boys very aptly said, "Three knapsacks, —
one for your back, and one for each foot." It was vexatious enough to
find ourselves in such a mess, but as all were served alike, the scene
became so ridiculous as to change our dejection to mirth. We were
soon marched into the main street of the town, where we were halted,
and where we soon rid ourselves of the incumbrance.
There had been some curiosity expressed, during our journey, as
to how we would be received by persons living so near the border line.
All doubts were soon removed by the kindly hospitality of the peo-
ple, who turned out of their houses in large numbers to greet us.
Upon learning of our hunger they proceeded at once to relieve it by
an abundance of food and coffee which they brought from their
homes. Most of us had had nothing to eat for twenty- four hours, and
this graceful act by the loyal people of Hagerstown was highly ap-
preciated. Some months afterward it was our good fortune to be
stationed so near as to become better acquainted with the people
of this open-hearted town.
During the entire trip from Boston only one man was seriously
injured. Edwin F. Morris, of Co. D, while engaged in securing a
curtain attached to one of the ambulances, was struck on the head
by a bridge. He subsequently returned to duty.
After a good rest we were marched into camp about a mile from
the town.
The companies were provided with " Sibley " tents, five to each
company. Each tent is capable of holding sixteen men without
crowding — seventeen crowds it, and eighteen men excites pro-
fanity; therefore the line was drawn at seventeen. The commis-
sioned officers were supplied with "wall" tents, square in shape,
while the " Sibley " was a round tent with a single pole resting on
a. tripod in the centre. The tents of the men were pitched so as to
be in a straight line, each company being parallel to the others, with
4 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
a liberal space between, called the company street. Each tent has
one opening, facing the street. The company officers' tents were
pitched in a straight line, at right angles with the company tents,
and so arranged, as to distance, that the oflScers were in line with
their respective companies.
After tents were pitched, some of the men turned in
1861. and went to sleep, though the novelty of the thing was
Thursday, ^^^ gjgat for most of us, who straggled back into town.
^'^^' *' During the day one of the boys brought in a Virginia
toim.'^' paper in which it was stated that one "Southerner
could lick five Northern mudsills." It was not so very
comforting to feel that we were to be killed off in blocks of five.
Nothing was said to us on the i6th of July, the date of our muster-
in, about this wholesale slaughter. There was a kind of airy
confidence as well as contemptuousness about the statement that
made our enlistment look little less like a picnic than when we
marched down Broadway. It was hard to realize that we had come
so far from home merely to solve a problem in mathematics, yet so
it seemed to the writer of that philippic.
Some time during the night an alarm was sounded by the beating
of the " long roll," and we were ordered into line to drive the ter-
rible foe, who was thought, even then, to be in our midst. Immedi-
ately everything was excitement and confusion. We can afford to
laugh now, but then it was terribly serious, and no doubt we did
some silly things ; but it should be borne in mind that this was very
early in the war. When it was discovered, as it shortly was, that all
this excitement was caused by a pig who strolled into camp and was
mistaken by the officer of the guard for the rebel army, many of us
were Imbued with a courage we hardly felt before. There was little
sleep during the balance of the night, as the matter had to be discussed
and talked about, as most things were in the rank and file of the
Thirteenth, particularly when it related to the foolishness of an officer.
Although orders awaited us, on our arrival in Hagerstown, to
march to Harper's Ferry, we were delayed on account of the bad
condition of the roads from recent rains. This kind of consideration
went out of fashion very soon after, we are sorry to say.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. O
1861. About sunset we struck tents and marched to Boones-
boro', fourteen miles, arriving there at the witching hour
of night when it is said churchyards yawn. We were led into an
empty corral, lately occupied by mules, to bivouac for the night.
Ordinarily a mule-yard would not be considered a desirable place
in which to spend the night, but it was midnight, and we were weary
with marching, and worn out with excitement and loss of sleep.
This was our fifth night from home. The first night was spent on
a Sound steamer, the second on our way to Philadelphia, the third
en route to Hagerstown, and the fourth in driving pigs out of camp,
so that this old mule-yard, as far as we could see it, appeared
the most delightful place in the world. At eighteen to twenty
years of age little time is wasted in seeking sl^ep. It comes
quickly and takes entire possession of your soul and body, and
all we did was to drop in our tracks, making no inquiries
about camp or picket guard, but let Morpheus lead us to the
land of pleasant dreams. This being our first bivouac, occur-
rences made a deeper impression than at any time afterward.
When reveille was sounded, and our eyes opened to the bright
sunlight, we looked about to see where we were and who were
near us. The bright red blankets of the regiment made the place
look attractive. Many of the boys were still stretching themselves
into activity, while others were examining their beds to account
for sundry pains of the body from neglect to brush the stones aside
when they laid down. How we all laughed when we saw where we
were ! Many and many a time while sitting round a camp fire have
we recalled this night in the mule-yard.
A good deal of complaint was heard to-day because of the short
allowance of food provided us on leaving Hagerstown. As we re-
ceived nothing more from the government until our arrival at
Pleasant Valley, thirty-six hours afterwards, we were forced to draw
on our own resources — " The almighty dollar." According to
letters, written at this time, we continued in much trouble about the
matter of rations until after our arrival at Darnestown. It is very
probable that our discontent was largely, if not wholly, due to the
sudden change to army rations.
6 THBEE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
t86i. The following articles of clothing were issued to each
man before leaving Fort Independence, and charged for
by the government, to be deducted the first pay-day :
I great coat. i blanket.
I uniform coat I bed-tick.
I fatigue coat. i knapsack.
I pair trousers. • dipper.
1 fatigue cap. > knife and fork.
2 pairs flannel drawers. i spoon and plate.
2 flannel shirts. I rubber blanket.
2 pairs socks. I haversack.
I pair shoes. i canteen.
Bed-tick ! When we sailed away from Fort Independence we felt
there was something we had left behind, and for thirty-one years we
have been trying to recall what it was, but when this list was read it all
came back to us — it was our bed-tick ! If the government charged
us with them it was a swindle, inasmuch as we never received them.
Added to this list were sundry articles contributed by friends.
One friend suggested to the writer " two long flannel night-gowns "
as indispensable.
As you had to pay for the articles issued, there was no objection
on the part of the government to your throwing them all away, if it
pleased you to do so. In addition, each company was supplied Math —
6 saws. 2 hatchets.
12 camp-kettles. 2 rakes.
12 mess-pans. 2 shovels.
2 axes. 2 picks.
These were carried in the company wagons, — that is, while we
had them. When the wagons were taken away, Mr. "High Private "
took his turn at carrying the axes, shovels, and picks.
A very hot day. Shortly after breakfast we left for
Saturday, Pleasant Valley, sixteen miles, where we arrived in the
Aug. 3. afternoon, and where we bivouacked for the night. A
good many of the men were overcome by the heat, and
didn't reach camp until after dark. The size of the knapsack was too
large for men unused to carrying such a weight. It must be reduced,
and there were no more Bibles. Just what to throw away it was diffi-
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 7
1861. cult to decide, as many of the articles we carried were con-
nected by association with those we held most dear. Some
of the boys had dressing-cases among their luxuries. They hated to
dispense with them, but it had to be done. Among the articles pro-
vided us by the State were " havelocks," commonly used in hot coun-
tries by the English army. The havelock was named after Sir Henry
Havelock, a distinguished English general. It is made of white linen,
to be worn on the head as a protection from the rays of the sun. As
it was made sufficiently large to cover the neck and shoulders, the
eflfect, when properly adjusted, was to deprive the wearer of any air
he might otherwise enjoy. An Englishman would melt in his boots
before he would give up a custom enjoyed by his grandfather. Not
so a Yankee. The motive which prompted the State to supply them
was a good one, as was also the suggestion that prompted their im-
mediate transfer to the plebeian uses of a dish-cloth or a coffee-
strainer, which suggestion was universally adopted, — a dish-cloth or
coffee-strainer being the only things in the world, apparently, we
were unprovided with.
Another hot day. A lovelier spot than Pleasant Valley
un ay, ^^ camp in would be hard to find, and we were glad
enough at the delay in marching. During the afternoon
we received orders to join General Banks at Harper's Ferry, but
before we were in readiness to march, other orders were received
to go to Sharpsburg, whereupon the hour of leaving was postponed
until to-morrow morning.
We got away early, and after a march of nineteen
Monday, miles went into camp about one mile from Sharpsburg.
Aug. 5. A hot day, and a long, weary march. We were soon
made happy by the arrival of the regimental wagons,
which we had not seen for four days. As they contained the tents,
camp kettles, etc., we soon made ourselves as comfortable as could
be. The camp was situated in a delightfiil grove near a good sup-
ply of water for bathing, as well as for cuhnary purposes.
Six companies were detached from the regiment and
Tuesday, sent as follows to guard fords on the Potomac river:
Aug. 6. A and B were sent to Antietam creek at its junction
8
THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1861. with the Potomac ; C, to Shepard's island ; E and H, to
Wednesday, Blackburn's ford ; and Co. I, to Dam No. 4.
Aug. 7, The duties of the camp were established by an
Sharpsburg. ^^^^^ ^j^j^j^ designated the following routine :
c 00 A.M.
.... Reveille.
S-30 " .
6.00 «
.... Fatigue.
.... Re-call.
6.15 «
7.00 "
Company drill.
. . . Breakfast.
7-4S " •
8.00 "
9.00 "
11.00 "
Assembly of guard.
. Guard-mounting.
.... DrUl.
. . . Re-call.
11.30 A.M Fatigue-
12.00 M Roast beef.
3.00 P.M. . . Orderly Sergeant call.
4.00 " Drill.
6.00 " Re-call.
7.00 " Dress parade, in full uni-
form.
9.00 " Tattoo.
9.30 " Taps.
This looks very much like the programme laid out for the troops
a,t a State muster.
Our relations with the people of Sharpsburg were very pleasant,
and they did their best to prevent our departure.
Inspection. The first religious exercises since leav-
Sunday, ing Fort Independence were this day held by the
Aug. II, Chaplain. Nothing was said about our leaving Bibles
^''"P^''"^^- in Philadelphia.
Word having been received that Mr. James Ritchie
Saturday, jj^^j arrived at Harper's Ferry, with money from the
State for services at Fort Independence, a detail of
twenty men from D and ten from K was sent to that
place to meet him, starting at 2 A.M. with an ambulance and
wagon. The distance was fourteen miles, to Maryland heights,
where Mr. Ritchie was found. They reached camp, on their return,
before dark, and all was joy.
Paid off. A good day and a good deed. We were
Sunday, gjg^^ jjjg gtate recognized our great services at the fort,
"^' ■ though $11 per month, to be sure, was not a high price
for a laborer who is worthy of his hire.
Tuesday Orders were issued for the detached companies to
Aug. ao. return at once to the regiment.
Aug. 17,
Sharpsburg,
TBIRTEENTB MASS. VOLS. 9
1861. Marched at 6 P.M. to Boonesboro', seven miles, and
Wednesday, ijiyouacked.
Marched to Middletown, eight miles, when we re-
Thursday, ceived orders for Sandy Hook: marched five more
miles, and bivouacked at Broad Run for the night.
Marched from Broad Run to Sandy Hook, fifteen
. miles, and camped about two miles back from the Poto-
Aug. 23. ' , '
mac nver. Co. I was detached and sent to the river,
opposite Harper's Ferry, to guard the ford at that point.
While at Sandy Hook we received the hats and uniform coats
issued to us by the State, and which were forwarded by express.
The coat was much too heavy, with the thermometer in the eigh-
ties. It was made with long skirts, and when fitting the wearer was
not a bad-appearing garment ; but as very few of them did fit, our
personal appearance was not improved. They were made large in
front, to meet an abnormal expansion of chest. Until we grew
to them, it was a handy place to stow some of the contents of
our knapsack. The hats were neither useful nor ornamental. They
were made of black felt, high-crowned, with a wide rim turned up
on one side, and fastened to the crown by a brass shield repre-
senting an eagle with extended wings, apparently screaming with
holy horror at so base an employment. On the front of the crown
was a brass bugle containing the figure 13. Now it so happened
that the person who selected the sizes was under the impression that
every man from Massachusetts had a head like Daniel Webster —
a mistake that caused most of us much trouble, inasmuch as news-
papers were in great demand to lessen the diameter of the crown.
Those of us who failed to procure newspapers made use of our ears
to prevent its falling on our shoulders. As will be seen later on,
they mysteriously disappeared.
Remained in camp at this place until September 2d, with the usual
routine of camp duties. The farmers soon discovered we were flush
with money, and raised the price of watermelons from two cents
apiece to twenty-five cents. Butter, eggs, and other luxuries were
displayed before the patriotic sons of Massachusetts, and many
there were who were beguiled of their money, and some there were.
10 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMT.
,86i. I am afraid, who evened up by forgetting to pay ; but,
as Mr. Kipling says, that is another story.
One night before we left this camp, the "long roll " was sounded
and the regiment marched to the river, opposite Harper's Ferry, it
having been given out that the enemy were attempting to cross at
that ford. When near the river we were required to lie on our
stomachs and crawl along so as to reach the bank without noise.
We had scarcely reached the water before it was discovered that
again the cause of alarm was a pig who made sufficient noise in his
wanderings to alarm the officer in command of the detachment, who
thought it was the enemy. This time it was a Prussian idiot, who,
playing the role of Don Quixote, deprived us of a night's sleep.
On the way back to camp, at daylight, he was the subject of com-
ment, and some there were who boldly expressed a wish that he
might be sent where the wicked cease from troubling.
The appointment of this officer to our regiment was one of the
instances of attempting to graft foreign fruit on to a native tree. As
it proved a lamentable failure, no apology is necessary for showing
him up as a warning to future governors in making such attempts.
The fact that he had expressed a contemptuous opinion of Yankees
doesn't count for much, of course, but that was no reason why he
should make himself or the regiment conspicuous by peculiarities in
dress or manners. Eccentricities of this kind were unbecoming in a
man of such mediocrity as he. Evidently the air we breathed was
unsuitable for a man of his expansive nature, and we were glad when
he shook the dust of the Thirteenth from his feet. Remembering
that " Pride goeth before destruction," we watched his career with
interest as he sailed alofl, unconscious of his elephantine conceit,
soaring higher and higher until he reached the rarefied air
of a lieutenant-colonel in a Maryland brigade, where swindling and
conduct unbecoming an officer were frowned upon. Having reached |
this giddy height he exploded like the sky-rocket, whose flight he
so much resembled, and like it plunged to earth again, followed by
the fiery tears of his mysterious friends. Notwithstanding he was
dismissed the service, he is, probably, now in " Fair Bingen on
the Rhine," relating the heroic deeds he performed in Yankee land
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. H
1861, to save the Union. He was the author of "Company
J, run I.'.'"
Among the orders issued from headquarters we noticed the fol-
lowing, which expkins very clearly the cause of irritation that ap-
peared in the colonel's face at battalion drill those hot afternoons.
It was supposed, at the time, that he was worried at the high price
we paid for watermelons :
Special Orjoer") Headquarters Thirteenth Mass. Vols.,
No. 71. i Camp Read, Aug. 29, i86i.
Commanding officers of Companies A and B will cause to be returned to
headquarters one chair each belonging to the Field and Staff.
Struck tents soon after daylight and marched with
Tuesday, empty stomachs to the Chesapeake and Ohio canal,
Sept. 3. where we took boats which were towed to Conrad's
Ferry, twenty-five miles, and where we bivouacked for
the night, whilst the rain fell in torrents. The boats were towed by
the horses of the regiment.
Between 4 and 5 P.M. marched to Poolesville, six
Wednesday, ^fieg^ and bivouacked near the Fifteenth Massachu-
^ ■ ■ setts regiment. A cold, rainy, and disagreeable night.
_. . Cold, wet, ^nd hungry, we marched at 6 A.M. in a
Sept. s. drizzling rain to Darnestown, seven miles, where we
Darnestown. arrived at noOn. The wagons reached us at night, when
we proceeded to make ourselves comfortable by pitch-
ing tents and cooking coffee. As three companies were detached
from the regiment on September ist. Company C being sent to
Monocacy Junction, and Companies I and K to Harper's Ferry, it
follows that only seven companies were at Darnestown. We were
now in close proximity to the rest of the division.
The brigade to which we were attached was commanded by Brig.-
Gen. C. S. Hamilton, and was composed of the Third Wisconsin
Infantry, the Eighty-third New York Infantry (Ninth New York),
the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, and Capt. Best's Regular
battery of twelve-pound brass guns. For a few days after our
arrival the wagons were kept loaded and rations were cooked.
12 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1861. in readiness to march at a moment's notice. The
expectations to move soon disappeared, and the men
proceeded at once to adorn and beautify the camp. Before each
tent were placed two evergreen trees, while the entrance to eadi
tompany street was adorned with a large arch of evergreen boughs.
When the work was completed the effect was very beautiful, and ex-
cited a large amount of praise from many who came to see it. A
picture of it was published in one of the illustrated weekly papers.
At this time of our service men were detailed in turn, in each com-
pany, to do its cooking, a place being set apart for that purpose, pro-
tected by rails and shaded by a roof of boughs. It was soon dis-
covered, however, that too many cooks did, indeed, spoil the broth.
Rather than waste all the food that was issued the companies soon set-
tled down to one man, with an assistant, and they were relieved from
all other duties. This system was pursued until the time when each
man did his own cooking, as will be seen farther on. It required
the patience of Job to cook for ninety-eight men, as we know from
experience. One week at it was convincing proof that a good cook
was a " heap " bigger man than McClellan.
While at this camp the tents were struck twice each week on sunny
days, that the ground might be uncovered all day to the sun. A wise
precaution, and no doubt had its effect on the health of the regi-
ment, which is mentioned in a report of the medical director of the
army, to Gen. McClellan, as being remarkable.
Joy in camp. A report was received that Jeff Davis
September ^a.s dead. Now that we are with the brigade our supply
of food has improved. It was about this time we dis-
covered, by reference to " Army Regulations," how the government
rated the various appetites. A colonel was allowed ^56 worth
of food each month j a lieutenant-colonel, S45 ; a major, I36 ;
a captain or lieutenant, ^36 ; while a soldier's daily ration con-
sisted of twelve ounces of pork or bacon, or one pound four
ounces of salt or fresh beef, one pound six ounces of sofl bread or
flour, or one pound of hard bread, or one pound four ounces of
corn meal. According to our experience, this was a very interesting
legend, and many a time we wished it were true, for there was no
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 13
1861. time when a soldier hadn't a 156 appetite, while it often
happened that less than five cents would buy his day's
rations. The liberality on the part of the government towards the
rank and file, respecting the amount of luggage he could carry, was
in marked contrast to what it rated his appetite. In an order issued
by Gen. Banks, at this time, it was expressly stated that a general
officer would not be allowed to carry more than one hundred and
twenty-five pounds, a field officer, one hundred pounds, a captain>
eighty pounds, and a subaltern, eighty pounds, while no restrictions
were placed on a private soldier.
An order was received to-day from headquarters stating that
" a sentinel's duty was a sacred trust." Nothing like having things
clearly defined.
A man in one of the Connecticut regiments was shot
September tg-day for sleeping on guard. It was not pleasant to
feel that a quiet nap, on picket, might be followed by
death, so we swore off sleeping while on guard.
It was at Darnestown that we were first made acquainted with
an article of food called "desiccated" vegetables. For the
convenience of handling, it was made into large, round cakes
about two inches thick. When cooked, it tasted like herb tea.
From the flow of language which followed, we suspected it contained
powerful stimulating properties. It became universally known in the
army as "desecrated" vegetables, and the aptness of this term
would be appreciated by the dullest comprehension after one mouth-
ful of the abonainable compound. It is possible that the chaplain,
who overheard some of the remarks, may have urged its discontinu-
ance as a ration, inasmuch as we rarely, if ever, had it again.
An order was received from General McClellan that
Sunday, «jjo work that can be avoided, no drills nor marching,
Sept. 15. ^j^^jj |.^j^g place on Sundays."
To those of us who served in the ranks, this seemed a wise and
considerate order, quite in harmony with the teachings of our
Puritan ancestors, and it consequently elevated General McClellan
in our estimation very much. Had his successors observed this
rule, the war might easily have been prolonged.
14 THREE TEARS IN THE ABUT.
1861. The regimental sutler arrived, bringing boxes and re-
Monday, membrances from home. A box from home was an
'P ■ ■ event in the life of a soldier that brought tender recol-
lections of the loving ones whose hands had prepared its contents.
One great pleasure we had with us was the band. It not only
discoursed good music, but did it so skilfully as to receive the com-
mendations of other regiments and officers, who availed themselves
of every opportunity to listen to its playing. Many a weary mile
they helped out by their willingness to play, even when they must
have been thoroughly fagged out themselves.
Thursday, National Fast Day. Parade to Darnestown and re-
Sept. 26. jyyjj jjj ^jjg afternoon. The colonel was very compli-
mentary in his remarks. Not so we. His remarks had
no reference to our hats, though ours did.
We were reviewed to-day by General Banks, and were
Wednes- jjjg observed of all observers because of our hats, the
Q '' brasses of which had been carefully polished for the oc-
casion, and reflected a yellow light over the entire divi-
sion. We were not happy at the comments, and from this day
they began their mysterious and gradual disappearance, until the
last one was gone.
Monday, Brigade drill. Caught in a thunder-storm. Thor-
'^"- 7" oughly soaked, including the hats.
Wednes- Orders received to march to-morrow. Much joy
day^ thereat. Notwithstanding our beautiful camp, we were
Oct. g. glad to break the monotony of camp life. The hats are
disappearing. The comical shapes into which some of
them are turned excites a good deal of merriment.
Marched to Hyattstown, fifteen miles, and biv-
Thursday, Quacked. Another batch of hats gone. We now march
Oct. 10. ... . . . ,
like veterans, it is said.
Friday, Marched to Frederick City, thirteen miles, and biv-
Oct. II. ouacked in a jail-yard. It rained hard. The few hats
that remained seemed to be ashamed of themselves.
During a temporary cessation of the rain we had dress parade be-
fore a large crowd of people who had gathered about us.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 15
1861. At I P.M. resumed the inarch in company with the
Saturday, Sixteenth Indiana regiment and Captain Matthew's bat-
tery, which accompanied us from Darnestown. Bivou-
acked at Boonesboro' after a march of seventeen miles. During the
last two days a pleasant rivalry had been excited as to the marching
abilities of the two regiments. Although we were much heavier
loaded than the Twelfth, we were in too good shape to be beaten.
Both regiments enjoyed the excitement.
Marched at 9 A.M. for Williamsport, sixteen miles,
Sunday, where we arrived about 4 P.M. Pitched our tents for
Oct. 13. the first time since leaving Darnestown. Wondered
what had become of General McClellan's order, of
September isth, about marching on Sundays. Later on, when his
downfall was announced, it was no surprise to the men who marched
this day.
Monday, Put things to rights in camp. Paymaster arrived ; he
Oct. 14. to whom we all bow with obsequious respect. A pay-
master's arrival will produce more joy in camp than
is said to have been produced in heaven over the one sinner
that repenteth.
Received the first instalment of mint-drops from the
Tuesday, government, and found them a balm for every woe.
They threw a lustre on the camp such as we had not
seen since the last brass-mounted hat had departed. Company B
detailed for provost duty in the town.
Changed camp about half a mile farther from town, and
Monday, j.q g^ much better spot, where we remained until March
Oct 23.
I, 1862. A very comfortable camp it was. When the
tents of the men were pitched, an excavation was made, in area, the
size of the tent, and about two feet deep. About a foot of this space
was filled with clean straw, so that when a fire was built, it was as
comfortable as any house. The stove, which sat a foot or two above
the ground, was shaped like a tunnel, the large end resting on the
floor, while the smaller and longer end, containing a damper, ex-
tended through the roof. This was made of sheet iron, having a
door a foot or more above the ground, to receive the wood. It
16 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
could be made red-hot in two minutes, and many were the boots that
suffered thereby. Huts were built for the officers.
The regiment was aroused at 1.30 o'clock this raom-
1861. ijig by the beating of the "long roll," and hastily
''' marched to the river, where it was ferried across for an
Oct. 25.
expedition into " Ole Virginny." One platoon contin-
ued on until it came in sight of Martinsburg, when it returned and
rejoined the regiment, and with it returned to the camp at Williamsport.
Companies K, C, and I rejoined the regiment. The
Thursday, ^^^y -^hich we performed this winter was a very im-
"^ ■ ^'' portant and a very difficult one, as General Stonewall
Jackson, at his own request (according to the official reports of the
Confederacy), received orders to do all the damage he could to the
dams of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and to harass the enemy
in any way his genius could suggest. General Jackson was no slug-
gard, as the world knows, and he made it lively for us to prevent him
from carrying out his purposes. While we were at Williamsport,
Colonel Leonard was in charge of all the troops on the Potomac,
from Harper's Ferry to Oldtown, a distance of more than one
hundred miles, by the river, while the duties of the regiment
included guarding the Potomac river from Harper's Ferry to
Sir John's Run, a distance of more than fifty miles. The work
was so well done as to prompt a commendation from General
Banks. Prior to our arrival, this part of the river was protected
by troops suppUed with the old smooth-bore musket of a very
antiquated pattern, with too Uttle power to carry a bullet across
the river, so that they were a constant source of ridicule by
the enemy, who were much better armed, and who amused them-
selves by coming down to the river daily, and placing the thumb
of the right hand to the nose, and the thumb of the left hand
to the little finger of the right hand, would make rapid motions
with the fingers, to the great exasperation of the Union men, who
were powerless to prevent it. After we were placed there with our
Enfield rifles, there was less time spent in arranging their fingers,
and more in the use of their feet. As they tried one point after
another from Falling Waters to the end of our line of fifty miles.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 17
1861. they were prompted to inquire what regiments were guard-
ing the river, and when the oft-repeated answer was " the
Thirteenth Mass.," they were astonished at our number, and were in-
terested to know what arms we carried. A Virginia paper, published
in Martinsburg, brought across the river by a Union man, contained
an editorial warning the people about " trusting themselves too near
the river, as there was a regiment from Massachusetts, several thou-
sand strong, with a gun that could carry like a piece of artillery."
In order to carry out so extensive a system -of pickets it was nec-
essary to make large and frequent details of men from each com-
pany, the particular dates of which are omitted, and only the larger
ones mentioned.
Co. D sent to Hagerstown. Returned on the 7 th.
Nov. 5. All of Company B, except twelve men, returned from
provost duty in town, to camp.
Nov. 26. Companies A, B, E, and H sent to Hancock.
Deo. 7. Company C sent to Dam No. 5.
Dec. 8. Co. G sent to Dam No. 5 to relieve Co. C.
Company K sent to Dam No. 4, but was overtaken
Dec. ir. ^jy an order to return. Co. C sent to Dam No. 5, but
returned before night.
Companies D and K sent to Dam No. 5, but re-
turned same night.
Company I sent on picket.
Regiment sent to Falling Waters.
Returned to camp at Williamsport.
Companies D, C, and G returned to Williamsport.
Dec. 14.
Dec.
17-
Dec.
18.
Dec.
,19.
Dec.
20.
1862.
Jan.
2.
Jan.
5-
Jan.
10.
Feb.
12.
Feb.
24.
Feb.
26.
Companies E, A, B, and H arrived from Hancock.
Companies C, D, I, and K sent to Hancock.
Companies C, D, I, and K returned from Hancock.
Company D sent to Hagerstown.
Company D returned from Hagerstown.
Company D sent on a reconnoissance across the river.
Returned the same day.
It was d — n the hats in summer, and Dam No. 5 in winter.
18 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. Among the duties that required our daily attention was
the ferry which was run across the river, daily at one o'clock,
unless circumstances prevented, or there was no one on the other side
to avail themselves of this convenience. Of course this was attended
with considerable risk, as it was very well known on the Virginia side
that it was being done. It almost always happened that some one
was on the bank waiting for an opportunity to come across. Some
of the farmers' wives and daughters were allowed to cross with eggs
or poultry to sell. Of course they were closely questioned. No toll-
rates had been fixed, so the guard used his discretion, and as the
toll was graduated according to what they brought, it frequendy
happened that the table of a private soldier was ornamented with
something besides silverware and flowers.
Hagerstown, the place where we first landed on our journey from
home, was only six miles away, and was the shire town of Washing-
ton County. Many were the visits we paid that place, and many the
acquaintances we made among the people. The provost marshal of
the town was an officer detailed from the Thirteenth, and his ad-
ministration of martial law was liberal as it was sensible, though when
occasion required he could be as inexorable as circumstances needed.
Company D was also stationed there part of the time;, therefore no
lack of inducement existed to make it a pleasant place to visit.
Our service in Williamsport formed an epoch in the history of the
regiment. Advantage was taken of the liberty allowed us, to become
acquainted with the people, and many pleasant acquaintances ripened
into strong friendships. Calls were frequently made for the services
of our glee-club, while the band was often heard in its streets.
The homes of the people were opened in friendly hospitality,
and the prejudice against " Massachusetts abolitionists," as we
were called, gradually disappeared, so that when the time arrived
for us to cross the river, the crowd to see us off was great enough
to remind us of home. Indeed, as the last company was ferried
across, it was a sight to see the waving of handkerchiefs, and to
hear the shouts of "farewell" and "good-luck" that greeted our
departure. Thus we crossed the Potomac river on Saturday, the
first day of March, 1862.
THIHTEENTU MASS. VOLS. 19
1862. It seems proper at this point to say a word or two
about our experience in Maryland. We found the peo-
ple cordial in their greeting and very hospitable, except in cases
where the sentiment was against the Union. It meant a good
deal to express Union sentiments or do acts of kindness to soldiers
as they marched through the country, when some watchful person
stood ready to turn informer as soon as the enemy approached.
Many were the acts of kindness done to soldiers worn out with
fetigue or overcome with the heat of the sun. Though thirty years
have passed, we have not forgotten how much the Union people of
Maryland did to lessen the hardships of soldiers. When we crossed
the river we entered the land of our foes, where the cheers and
kind wishes of the people were reserved for those who had their
love and sympathy.
20 THREE YEARS JJV THE ASMY.
CHAPTER II.
1862. Having said the last " good-by " to our friends across
Saturday, ^j^g jjygr ^g took up the line of march, about dusk, for
March i. Martinsburg, twelve miles, which point we reached a
little before midnight.
During our stay in Williamsport we had accumulated more things
than were necessary for our comfort, as we became painfully aware
of before our journey's end. We were now on the "sacred soil"
of Virginia. Whether it is better than any other soil could not be
determined in the darkness ; up to this time our knowledge of it
was limited to the experience at Harper's Ferry, the skirmish at
Bolivar Heights, and the reconnoissances from Hancock and Sir
John's Run, so we were not experts on the subject.
The Sixteenth Indiana, a company of cavalry and two pieces of
artillery, crossed the river and followed us to Martinsburg.
While marching in Maryland we felt secure from rebel interference
when falling out, overcome with fatigue or the heat of the sun,
but now we were likely at any moment to hear the unwelcome sound
of the enemy's musketry. A man must hesitate, therefore, before
he separated himself from his regiment. As it was dark we had
plenty of opportunity to reflect on what might be our receptiop by
the " F.F.V's " of Martinsburg. They might find some objection
to our entering town without paying toll — the toll that some of us
must pay before our three years were up.
Company A was well ahead as advance guard, and as long as
we heard nothing from them our minds remained at ease except
when we thought of our knapsacks, which had increased in size, like
the national debt.
It appears that when Company A arrived within half a mile of
the town it left the road, making a detour and entering it from the
.-- ' . o.^''"
MAP N9 E
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 21
1862. south on the Winchester road, while the regiment entered
it from the north. The quartermaster, or some other
officer, rode forward from the regiment to overtake Company A. As
he entered from the north the company was entering from the south.
Each mistook the other. Company A supposed him to be a rebel
picket endeavoring to escape out of town and fired, whereupon, sup-
posing it to be the fire of the enemy, he turned about in great haste
and rode back to the regiment. For a few moments there was con-
siderable confusion, but the officer in command stopped the firing
until he could ascertain the facts, which were soon learned, and quiet
restored. As no one was hurt it ended in a good laugh, though it
has never been settled as to " who took Martinsburg."
After the regiment entered the town the band played " Yankee
Doodle," " Glory Hallelujah," " Red, White, and Blue," and other
patriotic airs for the benefit of those benighted citizens who pre-
ferred the secesh song, " Maryland, My Maryland," which we heard
so frequently sung during the winter.
There is an interesting story about this song that deserves to be
preserved. It was composed by James R. Randall, and was pro-
nounced by James Russell Lowell to be the finest poem inspired by
the war. In April, 186 1, Mr. Randall, a native of Maryland, then
residing in Louisiana, published " An Exiled Son's Appeal " to his
mother State to cast her fortunes with the seceding States of the
South, The political feeling was intense in Maryland, and the stirring
words of this poem fired the hearts of thousands of her people.
The idea of wedding it to music was suggested, but its peculiar
metre refused to adapt itself to any familiar air that was thought of,
until one evening in June 1861, in Baltimore, at a social meeting of
well-known persons in sympathy with the South, Miss Hettie Cary,
desirous of making the meeting a notable success, suggested that the
words " Maryland, My Maryland," which at that time constituted
the chief mental pabulum of the Southerners, be adapted to music.
In order to render the suggestion more impressive she declaimed
the verses, when her sister Jennie exclaimed, " Lauriger Horatius,"
the well-known college song, and Miss Hettie Cary at once sang the
words to that music, whereupon everybody present joined, making
22 THREE X^-ARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. the building ring with the great hymn. The two Misses
Gary and a brother shortly afterward went South and did
not return until after the war. On their way through Virginia they
stopped for the night at Manassas and were serenaded by the band of
the celebrated Washington Artillery of New Orleans, whose huts, by
the way, we occupied later on at Centreville. When the band ceased
playing a voice exclaimed, " Let's hear a woman's voice ! " And Miss
Jennie Gary, standing in the tent door, sang " My Maryland." The
refrain was at once taken up and sung by hundreds of rebel throats.
After this scene nothing could have kept the song from living and grow-
ing into the power it speedily attained. Miss Hettie Gary became the
wife of General Pegram, and subsequently of Prof. H. Newell Martin.
A good many of the houses in the town were found to be empty,
the occupants having fled to parts unknown, whereupon we took
possession of them for quarters and proceeded to make ourselves
comfortable.
Company B, with a company from the Twelfth Indiana, was detailed
for provost duty.
It snowed hard in the afternoon, turning to rain before night. A
good New England day. We found the population of Martinsburg
to be five or six thousand inhabitants, and an important station on
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. On receiving information of
our approach the enemy destroyed forty-eight locomotive engines,
and the debris thereof was indeed a sight to see.
Martinsburg was the residence of Mr. Faulkner, a man who had
previously been distinguished by an appointment as Minister to
France. His family having little faith in Yankee soldiers, requested
a guard for the protection of themselves and their property, and cer-
tain men of our regiment were detailed for the purpose. When the
time came for cooking coffee, request was made for privilege to use
the kitchen stove, but it was refused. The Union must be preserved
and soldiers must have their coffee. The words " poltroons " and
" cowards " and " vulgar Yankees " are not pleasant words to hear,
even when uttered by a pretty woman. In this case they were spoken
in French, whereupon one of the boys informed madam that he also
spoke that language, which information so astonished her that she
was glad to retire to the privacy of the upper rooms, leaving the
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 23
"vulgar Yankees" in possession of the lower floor. The boys pro-
ceeded without further delay to cook their coifee and to use the old
man's library for their mental sustenance. Good books, good cof-
fee, and a well-filled pipe will broaden the mind of a soldier so as to
make him capable of swallowing a good deal of abuse.
The feeling against the Union was very bitter in this town, as was
expected it would be. The sentiment was not unanimous, however.
We were made pretty well acquainted with the sentiments of the
people through two boys from this town who had enlisted as drummers
in the Thirteenth, and who proved themselves to be good soldiers.
Their escape from Martinsburg and joining us at Williamsport, to-
gether with the sufferings of their family for maintaining Union
sentiments, would make a thrilling story if published.
Washing-day. A soldier's washing-day is any day ;
' some day when he couldn't stand it any longer, or when
„ . ' he became convinced that " dirt is something in the wrong
place." The colonel had us out this afternoon on battal-
ion drill, in the mud, to show the "F.F.V's" what a Massachusetts
regiment could do ; and a goodly sight it is to see, when the regiment
is well drilled. The colonel enjoyed it more than we did.
General Williams assumed command of the brigade to-day.
Troops are arriving daily and molasses is ^1.75 per gallon.
We were anxious at this time to see a regular thoroughbred
"F.F.V.," about whom we had heard so much. Therefore some
watched while others preyed, and those who preyed submitted sam-
ples of their success for judgment. They were complimented for
their earnestness, but informed that the " First Families of Vir-
ginia" did not have feathers. They bore their disappointment with
the tranquillity which possesses a man who has breakfasted on
broiled chicken. In these searches for " Full Feathered Vir-
ginians " the boys declared that they always met an officer's servant
at the same coop.
With the rest of the brigade we marched to Bunker
Wednesday, Hill, ten miles, where we arrived late in the afternoon.
March 5. The march was slow, owing to the mud. The soil was
not too " sacred " for mud. Bunker Hill is a small vil-
lage with scattering houses, one church, and a deserted mill. Two
24 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. companies, B and C, occupied the church, and company
K, the mill.
In a report made by General Jackson to Gen. Jos. E. Johnston,
March 6, 1862, he says that "Yesterday the enemy advanced from
Martinsburg to Bunker Hill. So Leonard, the commander, has
effected a junction with Charlestown forces via the Charlestown and
Smithfield road. Leonard, before leaving Martinsburg, sent his
baggage in the direction of Williamsport. His column was about
two miles long, composed of seven regiments of infantry, four com-
panies of cavalry, and probably six pieces of artillery." Well-
informed as he was about our movements, he omitted to mention
the articles left behind by the rank and file before we left Martins-
burg, though we still had three days' rations, forty rounds of ammuni-
tion, and a gun called the Enfield rifle. On our arrival at Bunker Hill,
we found eight rebels in a church, and retained them as prisoners.
This shows how unadvisable it is to go to church on Tuesdays.
We found at Bunker Hill no monument to mark the place where
Warren fell, — probably because he preferred to fall in Massachu-
setts.
Charlestown and Bunker Hill ! The Virginians were so bound up
in the sacredness of their soil they were unable to appreciate the
sacredness attached to these two names.
A detail of Company D was left behind at Martinsburg to ac-
company the wagon train.
While at this place an incident occurred to sweeten the toil of
drilling and guard duty of four of the boys. During the early part
of our service, details were frequently made from the regiment to
guard property, or the residences of citizens who feared depreda-
tions by soldiers. Occasionally a detail of this kind would turn out
to be a " soft snap."
The following unique experience deserves to be recorded as evi- I
dence of our appreciation of the unusual kindness shown. The
afternoon of the day following our arrival, a Mr. W. HoUiday made
application for a guard of protection for himself and wife, two people
advanced in years, living about a mile from camp ; and four men
were thereupon detailed for that duty, and returned with Mr. Holli-
THIRTEENra MASS. VOLS. 25
i852. day to his farm. He was also the owner of a mill near by,
and appeared to be a man in prosperous circumstances.
His son, a clergyman, was at that time preaching in Baltimore. Upon
their arrival the boys proceeded to arrange their duties, expecting, of
course, to stand guard the same as though they were in camp. To
this plan the old gentleman strongly objected, saying that they must
remain about the house while he would walk around the farm, and if
any soldiers were in sight, would let them (the guard) know, when
they were to order the trespassers away. There seemed to be no way
of settling the matter except by agreeing to this plan, which practi-
cally relieved them of all duty. Having been introduced to Mrs. Hol-
liday, a kind, motherly old lady, and having observed the evidences
of culture and refinement which existed about the house, the boys
proceeded to enjoy themselves by sitting on the piazza or strolling
about the place as best pleased them until supper was announced,
when they were ushered into the dining-room. They had drawn
three days' rations before starting, expecting to feed themselves,
but the old people wouldn't listen to it for a minute. How pleasant it
was once more to sit down to a table covered with a white cloth, and
plenty to eat and drink. What a contrast the clean white plates made
to the tin plates of the boys, already battered with hard usuage. In
spite of craving appetites, they were unable to exhaust the supply
of food, while it seemed to please the old couple to witness the en-
joyment expressed in every mouthful the boys ate. After supper
they all adjourned to the sitting-room, and before a blazing wood fire
sat and talked the evening away. When bedtime arrived they
were ushered upstairs by Mr. Holliday, who feared very much that
they might not like the accommodations, as some accident had hap-
pened to one of his bedsteads, by which he was compelled to give
two of the party a double bed, and the others a pile of mattresses
about three feet high. They very soon eased the old gentleman's mind
on that score, as they saw the pains and trouble he had been to in
looking after their comfort. What a luxury it was to get their clothes
off and crawl in between sheets once more. " Good-night, boys ! and
don't get up until I call you," were his last words. In the morning,
at half-past eight, they heard his rap on the door. How pleased he
26 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. was to learn that they had had a glorious sleep ! What a
kindly greeting they received from Mrs. HoUiday on en-
tering the dining-room, and how interested were her inquiries about
their comfort ! Even the logs in the fire-place sputtered a welcome ;
and such a breakfast was laid before them ! There was hominy and
bacon, hot biscuits and coffee, smoking hot potatoes, and broiled
chicken ; and such an abundance ! Certainly this must all be a
dream, from which they would soon awake to reaUty. To tackle such
a lay-out as this, after living on hardtack and pork, required no
urging. After breakfast, they retired to the sitting-room to sit by the
fire while the old gentleman went on guard. This was the only
thing that troubled the boys ; but there was no help for it, as he
insisted in doing so in spite of their earnest protestations to the
contrary. With books and games, they whiled the time away until
dinner. On finishing breakfast they thought it hardly possible to
ever want to eat again, but they sat down and packed themselves
solid with food. This twenty-four hours was a sample of the three
days they spent at this hospitable mansion. On the afternoon of
the last day Mr. Holliday came in and informed them that a soldier
was approaching the house. They saw it was no use to drive
Jiim away, for he was evidently clothed with authority to drive them
out of this paradise. He produced his " marching orders," which
required them to report to camp. On the following morning they
were up early to eat their last breakfast ; after which the old gentle-
man accompanied them to camp to testify to their usefulness and the
comfort they had been by their presence. While the boys were
snoring in bed, Mrs. HoUiday had spent a good part of the night in
baking biscuits and cake for them to take back to camp for distribu-
tion among their comrades. If the dear old lady could have heard
the cheers that went up as the contents of that bag were exposed,
her heart would have throbbed with joy.
General Banks paid the brigade a visit. What his
"' g''' presence betokened we were unable to say, though the
camp gossips amused themselves by constructing stories
that would have honored Munchausen.
A rebel deserter came into camp to-day, loaded to the muzzle
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 27
1862. with lies for our digestion. We accepted a good deal
of nonsense from these deserters, in our simplicity at this
time, that didn't pass later on. He told great stories about men
looking for opportunities to desert ; but we didn't see much of a
procession of these fellows, so the war was continued.
While the regiment was out on battalion drill in the
Friday, afternoon, word was received that four hundred rebel
March 7. cavalry were within four miles, whereupon we were
double-quicked through the mud, across a brook,
and down the road, expecting to have a brush with the
"Johnnies." Just as we were halted and our guns loaded, we
were met by regiments returning ; so back through the mud we
marched to camp, our feet soaked and our legs covered with the
" sacred soil."
Three men shot on picket through their own carelessness, it is
said. Men should never go on picket : it is dangerous.
An order was issued to-day for the detail left at Williamsport to
report to the regiment. An order was also issued that when men
are obliged to fall out on a march they must be provided with
passes.
The nights are so cold, we wondered where the man was who said
Virginia was in the tropics.
The President to-day issued the following order for
Satur ay, ^j^^ organization of the active portion of the Army of
March 8. " . ^ , ......
the Potomac mto four army corps, from. the divisions of
Banks and Shields :
Pre5idbnt*s General War
Obder No. X.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 8, 1862.
Ordered, I. That the major-general commanding the Army of the Potomac
proceed forthwith to organize that part of the said army destined to enter upon
active operations (including the reserve, but excluding the troops to be left in the
fortifications about Washington), into four army corps, to be commanded accord-
ing to seniority of rank as follows :
First Corps to consist of four divisions, and to be commanded by Major-Gen.
I. McDowell.
28 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. Second Corps to consist of three divisions, and to be commanded
by Brigadier-Gen. E. V. Sumner.
Third Corps to consist of three divisions, and to be commanded by Brigadier-
Gen. S. P. Heintzelman.
Fourth Corps to consist of three divisions, and to be commanded by Brigadier-
Gen. E. D. Keyes.
2. That the divisions now commanded by the officers above assigned to the com-
mand of army corps shall be embraced in and form part of their respective corps-
3. The forces left for the defence of Washington will be placed in command
of Brigadier-Gen. James S. Wadsworth, who shall also be military governor of
the District of Columbia.
1 4. That this order be executed with such promptness and despatch as not to
delay the commencement of operations already directed to be undertaken by the
Army of the Potomac.
5. A Fifth Army Corps, to be commanded by Major-Gen. N. P. Banks, will
be formed from his own and General Shields' (late General Lander's) divisions.
(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
It will be seen by this order that we were to be a part of the Fifth
Corps of the Army of the Potomac.
Strict orders were issued by direction of General
Sunday, Williams that no commissioned officers nor privates are
March g. to pass the picket-guard without a written pass. Wagons
not to be sent out without sufficient guard. Guards or
detachments with loaded muskets to discharge them between 9 and
10 A.M., at a designated spot. That the safety of the command de-
pends on the observance of this last order.
Hard bread getting scarce. Flour issued in its place. Some of
the boys clubbed together on drawing their flour, and had it baked
into bread by one of the farmers' wives, paying therefor in coffee,
which was rated at $1.50 per pound at the store. What a glorious
opportunity for speculation !
Orders issued to cook three days' rations. Each offi-
Monday, cer and soldier to see that everything is in perfect order,
March 10. with forty rounds of ammunition in the cartridge-boxes.
If there were any Quakers in the regiment, it was a good
time for them to start for Philadelphia. We expected to march at
10 A.M., but as it rained hard the order was countermanded. The
war was therefore prolonged one day.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 29
i86a. Marched to Stephenson's Depot, six miles, and
Tuesday, bivouacked in the woods about four miles from Winches-
March ii. ter. As we marched out of Bunker Hill the usual crowd
gathered to see the troops pass along. Among the num-
ber was a young man who gave utterance to his rebellious thoughts
by irritating remarks as to what we were likely to do on meeting
Ashby's cavalry. When the price of salt is I30.00 per bag, it is not
strange that the language of the people should smack of an unusual
freshness.
Our march was frequently obstructed by rebel cavalry under
Ashby j but no one was hurt, though it looked rather shaky at times.
The great caution that was observed in our march to-day made
it late in the afternoon before we went into camp. Details were
made for camp and picket-guard, camp-fires were lit, coffee cooked,
and the proper degree of thankfulness expressed by those who
escaped guard duty.
After supper the men gathered round the fires for a smoke and to
listen to the gossip of the regiment. It frequently happens that some
one will invent a story, requesting the strictest secrecy, in order that
it may travel the faster. In the course of twenty-four hours or so
it will return, not exactly as it went forth, but so enlarged and ex-
aggerated that you could scarcely recognize the original. Frequent
repetition of this amusement very soon created such disbelief in all
camp stories, that it was difficult to get one well started except by
the exercise of considerable ingenuity.
The rattle of drums and the sweet singing of birds
announced that morn was here. The army was to move
_, I on Winchester at once, so we hastily cooked our coffee,
and as quickly as possible ate our breakfast. There
was no time to spare, as orders to " fall in " were heard in every
direction. Orders were received for the Thirteenth to take the
advance of the column as skirmishers. Winchester was four miles
away, occupied by 25,000 troops under Stonewall Jackson, and well-
fortified by earthworks. As soon as we were out of the woods the
regiment was deployed as skirmishers, and marched in that order in
quick time across fields, over fences and stone walls, fording brooks
30 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. or creeks, preserving distances and line as well as we could
under such disadvantages. The sensations we experi-
enced on this bright, beautiful morning are not likely to be forgotten.
It was very warm, and the march a hard one, because the line was ir-
regularly obstructed. That is to say, while one part would be marching
on the smooth surface of the ground, another part might be climbing
a fence or wading a brook. To keep the line tolerably straight imder
such exasperating circumstances was very trying and perspiring work.
In addition to this we were, for the first time, in line of battle, and in
plain sight of the rest of the division, who were watching our move-
ments as they followed in close column. Situated as we were, there
was no opportunity of obeying, without disgrace, those instincts of
discretion which are said to be the better part of valor, and which
prompt human nature to seek safety in flight. Those of us who
omitted to sneak away before the line was formed, but who afterward
showed such ingenuity and skill in escaping the dangers of battle,
found no chance open for skulking on this occasion. Yes ! Uke
other regiments, we had our percentage of men who dared to run
away, that they might live to fight some other, far distant day. We
saw those dreaded earthworks a long time before we reached them,
and wondered at the enemy's silence, but concluded they were
reserving their fire until we should be close enough for the greatest
execution. Whatever the boys felt, there was no faltering or waver-
ing. Within a short distance of the earthworks we formed in close
order, and with a yell and a rush we bounded over them to find,
after all our fears and anticipations, they were empty. We were
soon formed in line, and marched, in column of companies, into
town, being the first Union regiment that entered Winchester. We
felt proud enough at our bloodless victory.
We had hardly entered the main street of the town when General
Jackson and Colonel Ashby were discovered on horseback, in front of
the Taylor House, waving an adieu with their hats. An order was
immediately given to fire, but we were not quick enough to do them I
harm or retard their flight. This was a daring thing to do, though
common enough with such men as Jackson and Ashby.
We marched down the main street, the band playing patriotic airs,
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 31
i86z. while the people scanned our appearance to see what a
Yankee looked like. Some who were prepared to scoff
could get no farther than " How fat they are ! "
After the companies were assigned to quarters the officers met at
the Taylor House, and dined on the meal provided for Jackson and
his staff.
The regiment was detailed as provost guard of the town, and pro-
ceeded at once to secure quarters in the unoccupied buildings.
Winchester is a town of four or five thousand inhabitants, blessed
with a water-supply, is the county seat, has a medical college and
a hotel. In addition to all these advantages, it was one of the hot-
beds of secession.
Our duties as provost guard made the stay in Winchester very
attractive. The regiment was always allowed great liberty by the
colonel, who found by experience that the men could be trusted
with it ; so we roamed about town, when not on duty, as pleased us
best. The men who were on duty, not wishing to be outdone by
the colonel, also granted liberties to those of their comrades whom
they knew fAey could trust. One of the places we were called upon
to guard was the dining-room of the Taylor House, where many of
the officers were quartered, to prevent any one not a commissioned
officer entering without a pass. It so happened that a few of us
dined there each day at the landlord's expense, the guard finding it
difficult to detect the difference between a man who was a commis-
sioned officer, and one who wanted to be.
Two of the companies were quartered in the hall in the court-
house. As the hall was provided with a platform, an opportunity
was afforded of having some singing and dancing by Southern darkies
whom we corralled each day, for the purpose, and to which the
whole regiment was invited. The dancing was vigorous, and the
singing, — \?ell, it was not what we hoped it would be. It began
with a grand anthem of one hundred and thirty-nine stanzas, all just
alike, which was ground out by the yard. A hat was placed on the
front of the platform, to receive donations from time to time, as
encouragement. When we got as many yards of the anthem as we
could stand, we shut them off and made them dance — as a rest.
32 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. When we thought they had sufficient rest we started them
on again with the anthem until we got enough of both,
when we divided the contents of the hat and fired them out. The
anthem was as follows :
" And it's Old John Brown don't you see
It'll never do for you to try to set the darkies free
For if you do the people will come from all around
And take you down and hang you up in old Charlestown."
There was no punctuation about it, and the only way we distin-
guished the verses was the emphasis placed on the word " and," on
beginning each stanza. There was a dispute as to whether the
number of stanzas was one hundred and thirty-nine or one hundred
and forty ; but one of the boys says he counted one hundred and
thirty-nine, and that ought to settle it.
It was while we were at Winchester that the government issued
the new currency called " greenbacks," fac-similes of which were
pubUshed in the illustrated papers. The currency of the Confed-
eracy was printed on various kinds of material, such as match-paper,
cloth, etc. The people of Winchester who believed that our gov-
ernment was as badly off as their own thought these fac-similes were
good money, and received them as such until one was offered at a
sutler's store and refused, when a great ado was made at the " Yankee
trick." As soon as it was known that these fac-similes would be
taken by the people, the price of " Harper's Weekly " or " Frank
Leslie's " paper rose very high. An appeal was made to the colonel
for restitution, notwithstanding that " all is fair in love or war." The
perpetrators of this fraud were never found. Curious, isn't it?
During our brief stay in Winchester the boys enjoyed a little
fiin at the expense of the fair sex of that distinguished town. A
sutler of one of the regiments having secured a store on the main
street for the sale of his goods, hung out over the sidewalk a Union flag.
The sight of the " Stars and Stripes " produced about the same effect
on the people as the sight of a red rag would upon an enraged bull.
Rather than dishonor themselves by walking beneath it, they turned
into the middle of the street to escape the humiliation. On the fol-
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 33
1862. lowing day some members of the "Ninth New York"
hung a large flag across the middle of the street, while-
Company K of the Thirteenth stretched another one across the op-
posite sidewalk, thus completely blocking the street. A rebel flag
was then laid flat on the sidewalk. Supposing this to be like those
above, they trampled upon it and tore it with their feet, to the great
merriment of the boys, who loudly applauded the act. The mortifi-
cation they felt on discovering their error was too exasperating for
concealment, and so found vent in expressions of disgust which added
still more to the fun.
The repugnance which the women of the South felt for a Yankee
frequently found expression in contemptuous remarks. At dress-
parade, one night, as we were falling into line, on the double-quick,
a woman shouted, "Ashby'll make you run faster than that!"
Who knows but this unhappy creature may have inherited a copy
of the "Vinegar Bible," and that constant reading of it may have
fermented the natural sweetness of her disposition ? One would think
that nothing but an extermination of the whole race of Yankees
would satisfy her anger, so bitter was her feeling.
It was at Winchester that some of the boys were called upon
from Company D to show their mechanical ingenuity in recon-
structing a dilapidated engine, one of three left by the enemy,
and they succeeded so well that it was sent to Halltown, near
Harper's Ferry, for flour. It was no light job the boys had, and
they deserved all the fun they got out of it. When the work was
completed a train was attached, and about eighty men were taken
aboard, armed with implements, including iron and spikes, to make
such repairs as were needed in the progress of their journey. The
track was composed of heavy strap iron, spiked on to wooden
stringers. Reaching Charlestown, the cars were dropped, while the
locomotive proceeded to Halltown, accompanied by a small detail.
Later in the afternoon the party returned, having first secured a
train of cars which were loaded with flour for the troops in Win-
chester. The vacant space was taken up by men on leaves of
absence returning to camp, who availed themselves of the opportu-
nity thus afforded to escape a long tramp to Winchester. This
34 TURKE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. addition to the number made the journey back anything
but pleasant, besides greatly lessening the speed. Pretty
soon a curious sound from the internal organs of the engine caught the
ear. There was something the matter with the iron horse. He blew
and snorted as though he had the belly-ache, when climbing an up-
grade. Very soon the monotony of his funereal pace became unbear-
able, and to his hissing and sputtering was added the grumbling of
the tired passengers, who longed for a sight of Winchester. Added to
other troubles was the discovery that a bridge was on fire, the work
of some Southerner who believed in a vigorous prosecution of the
war, by his side, in order to shorten it. Fortunately for the party,
the wood was sufficiently damp to prevent the bridge from being
destroyed. It had the eftect, however, of enlivening the drowsy
faculties of the party, who kept a sharp lookout for further danger.
Near midnight, with Winchester two miles away, the iron horse
started on an up-grade, puffing and blowing with all his might, until,
completely out of breath, he gave up the trial and rolled back to
the level below. The boys rested him a moment, then opened
wide his old throttle, and up the grade \ie went once more ; but
when almost up, he " busted " one of his intestines, enveloping
the whole train with steam. Matters were very lively for a few
moments. The party scattered like rats from a sinking ship. The
" iron horse " was abandoned to his fate, and the party walked into
Winchester. The freight was subsequently brought into town by army
wagons.
Winchester was the home of Mason, of the firm of Mason and
Slidell, that famous pair of rebels who came so near embroiling us in
a war with England. They were appointed by the Confederate gov-
ernment as envoys to European courts, and were taken by the rebel
gunboat " Theodora " to Havana, escaping the watchfulness of our
cruisers. Upon their arrival at that port they became inflated with a
lofty admiration of their consequence, forgetting how illusive is the
vainglory of the world. Assuming an importance out of keeping
in men representing a rebellious government, they attracted the at-
tention of the world to their missson and its purport, thereby laying
the foundation of their subsequent failure as diplomats. From
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 35
1862. Havana they embarked on board the English steamship
" Trent," bound for " Merrie England."
It so happened that the noise of their doings reached the ears of
Commodore Wilkes, who was on his way home from Africa in the
" San Jacinto." Impressed with the idea that they were fair game to
capture, wherever they might be found, he overhauled the "Trent"
•and demanded their surrender. After removing them to the " San
Jacinto," which, by the way, was not accomplished without some
friction, Commodore Wilkes set sail for Fort Warren, Boston Har-
bor, where he deposited his thoroughly disgusted prisoners, to enjoy
the care and entertainment of the government, while he enjoyed the
hospitality proffered him by the people of Boston, where his action
made him a great hero.
All this, which happened in November, 1861, made a deuce of a
row. Our government soon learned that yanking the British lion's
tail, without lawful right, meant something, and it was forced to eat
its dish of " crow " by apologizing for its hasty action, and transfer-
ring the prisoners to an English ship, anchored at Provincetown,
and thus fortunately ending the matter.
In -consequence of these exciting incidents Mr. Mason's resi-
dence became an object of much curiosity, and as a guard was
detailed from the Thirteenth to protect the premises, we had
an opportunity of becoming distantly acquainted with his family.
Their sentiments were of the rabid kind. They believed a dead
Yankee was the best kind of a Yankee. We did our best, by good
nature and politeness, to remove their impressions ; but it was no go,
as the gangrene of contempt had too deeply affected their minds to
allow a change of heart. When the guard arrived at the house, Mrs.
Mason, mistaking their purpose, remonstrated against any " Northern
mudsills " entering her premises, which statement was promptly
communicated to the colonel, who soon made his appearance and
explained to her that it was the guard sent to protect her and her
property from the presence of persons whom she had no wish to see.
And this is the way we were treated in return for all our kindness and
attention to her husband during his stay at Fort Warren.
An order was this day issued by General McClellan, in accord-
36 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. ance with the President's order of the 8th inst., desig-
March 13. nating General Banks' corps, composed of the divisions
of Generals Williams and Shields, as the Fifth Corps.
An order was also issued this day by General Banks to his troops,
containing the following :
The commanding general learns with sincere regret that officers in some cases,
from mistaken views, either tolerate or encourage depredations upon property.
This is deeply regretted. He calls upon them to reflect upon the destructive
influences which attend such practices, and to remember the declaration of the
great master of the art of war, that pillage is the most certain method of dis-
organizing and destroying an army.
When we reflect how much property we protected, and thereby
made useful for Jackson in his subsequent raids up the valley, we
naturally ask which army he means will be destroyed.
So far as our experience goes, the people of Winchester ex-
pressed astonishment that no plundering had occurred, as they had
been informed that terrible things would happen upon our entry
into town. Whether they lied or not we are unable to say, but they
said the town was never so quiet as during our stay there. It may
be they spoke the truth, as most of the stores were closed upon our
entrance, but shortly afterward opened, doing a thriving business.
Early in the morning the right wing of the regiment,
Saturday, with two companies of cavalry and four pieces of artillery,
March 13. made a reconnoissance to Newtown, eight miles away.
Upon our arrival at that place, we found the enemy
drawn up in line of battle in readiness to make it warm for us should
we feel disposed to advance. The artillery was immediately placed
in position and began firing. Whether we did any damage or not
we had no means of knowing. On our side no one was hurt, though
several were badly scared. During this desultory firing, arrangements
were being quietly made by the enemy to gobble the whole outfit,
which action was discovered in season to prevent its completion.
As there, was no time to countermarch the regiment, it marched
back to Winchester " left in front," the small men thereby taking the
lead. It soon began to rain, and before our arrival in Winchester
thirteenth: mass. vols. 37
i86a. we were drenched to the skin. This return march of
eight miles was made in one hour and fifty minutes —
extraordinsrrily good time for a regiment marching in column, and
will be recollected by the participants for that, if for nothing else.
It was a great day for the " ponies," as it was they who set the pace.
The average speed of a regiment on the march is from two to
two and a half miles per hour. This speed includes such delays as
occur from obstructions in the road, caused generally by streams
that are not bridged. It sometimes happens that a speed of three
miles per hour, and occasionally three and a half miles, is attained
under special circumstances. In the march from Newtown, just
recorded, the rate of speed exceeded four miles per hour ; a very
exceptional case.
The manner of marching was in fours, and by what is known as
" route step ; " that is, " go as you please." The men were generally
in step, because it was easier, as everybody knows. You were at
liberty to carry your gun, knapsack, blankets, ammunition, etc., as
best pleased yourself. Three to five days' rations were often carried
in the haversack. In the last part of the war, to have had issued
to you for three days such a quantity and variety of rations as was
given you for one day at this time would have made a man think
he was preparing for Thanksgiving day.
The machinery necessary for providing an army as large as the
Union army with daily rations seemed to us the most wonderful of
the various responsibilities that occupied the attention of the gov-
ernment. The occasions were rare when the soldier worried himself
about the matter. Of course it did happen occasionally that he was
forced to put up with short commons, as in cases where forced
marches were suddenly made, or where supplies were cut off by raids
of the enemy. In instances where the full ration was not issued, it
was the custom of the government to commute the difference, pay-
ing the sum so realized to each company, which fund was known as
the " company fund," and which was held by the captain, who was
allowed to draw therefrom for such purposes as, in his judgment,
were necessary for the comfort of his men. The rations issued the
first year of the war were good, and little cause for complaint ex-
38 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. isted, as a rule. Later, when the exigencies of the service
prevented their prompt delivery, hardtack, from exposure
to the weather, was frequently ornamented with a bordar of green,
and occasionally with maggots or weevils. Coffee and pork came in
for their share of these diminutive specimens of animal life. As we
advanced in our education and experience as soldiers, a small matter
of this kind ceased to have a disturbing influence in our daily life.
Hardtack was a nutritious article of diet, and though soft bread was
occasionally issued, old soldiers preferred the former, not only for
its compactness, but for its sustaining and satisfying qualities. When
it left the oven it was uniformly good, as it was uniformly hard.
The chaplain preached a rattling sermon on the evils
Sunday, of secession, in front of the court-house. Notice having
March 16. been given out to the towns-people that he was to
preach, advantage was taken by some of them to be
present and listen to a " Yankee " preacher. An opportunity was
thus afforded the chaplain of airing his eloquence, with which he
was highly gifted, on these degenerate sons of Virginia.
St. Patrick's day without a procession in honor of the man who
drove snakes out of Ireland is a deprivation we were
Monday, unused to. What a terrible thing is war ! We were now
March 17. in a part of the country where an " F.F.V." was a bigger
man than St. Patrick.
For real thoroughbred aristocracy, the " First Families of Vir-
ginia " can lay over, or think they can, all the " blue-bloods " of the
North or South. They have a well-grounded opinion of their superi-
ority to other mortals in this world, with anticipations of a similar
rank in the next. Perhaps they expect, on announcing their
names at the gates of Paradise, that St. Peter will doff his cowl with
becoming humility, and lead them to the seats already reserved
about the throne for people whose blood is of the ultra- marine hue.
In their opinion, to bear the label " F.F.V." confers a distinction
that no honor can excel. It is a brand of aristocracy too choice
to be the reward of mere wealth. As a rule they were persons of
culture and refinement, and took great pride and pleasure in dis-
pensing a generous though ruinous hospitaUty. They looked upon
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 39
x86a. themselves as the nobility of the land, and prior to the
war, with abundance of means, and numerous slaves to do
their bidding, many of them led ideal lives. It is not to be wondered
at, therefore, that the breaking up of such an existence should develop
an unnatural animosity toward the government. It was impossible to
live as they did, in the dazzling rays of external splendor, without ex-
citing the unreasoning enmity of their less fortunate neighbors, who
took advantage of our presence to retaliate. It happened after we
crossed the river into Virginia, that, knowing little about them,
we sought every opportunity of exciting mirth or provoking ridicule
at their weaknesses. As we became acquainted with them, we were
ready to believe them to be generous, brave, and attractive in
manners, except when their tempers were excited, as against the
North, and then they were rabid and unreasonable. We soon learned
that every ill-clad ignorant specimen on the roadside was not an
" F.F.V." We also learned that their less fortunate neighbors took
every opportunity of maligning them, and the stories told us of the
terrible things they were doing had to be taken with a good deal
of allowance, otherwise we might have done them injustice.
40 THREE YEAB8 IN TEE ABMT.
CHAPTER III.
1862. Companies B and K, retained in town for duty while
Tuesday, ^j^g ^ggj gf ^]^g regiment prepared to go into camp, an
March 18. ^j^j^j. jj^ying been received transferring the Thirteenth to
General Abercrombie's brigade. During the day we called
on our old associates of Hamilton's brigade and bade them good-by.
General Shields with his division of 10,000 men passed through
Winchester to-day and made a good show.
Marched out of town about two miles ; pitched tents
Wednesday, in sight of the camps of the Second and Twelfth Massa-
Marcb 19. chusetts regiments. We then marched to the camp$ of
the regiments in Abercrombie's brigade, that we might
see them, and let them see us. The new brigade was composed of
the Twelfth Massachusetts, Ninth New York (Eighty-third Vok.),
the Twelfth and Sixteenth Indiana regiments. Whatever may have
been their opinion of us, we were favorably impressed with our new
associates. We thus began an association with the Twelfth Massa-
chusetts and Ninth New York regiments that lasted during the rest of
our service, and with whota we shared a good many hardships and
dangers as time rolled on.
It snowed and hailed last night, and to-day it rained,
Thursday, jq .^g were relieved of drills and dress parade. We were
surprised to find such weather as this in Virginia. It
looked like an infringement on New England's weather patent.
Marched with the brigade in an easterly direction, ten
Friday, miles, toward Berryville, and went into camp in the
March 21. ^QQ(jg about two miles short of that town. It rained
hard nearly all day, and it was dark before we halted.
Building fires with wet, green wood required a deal more of Christian
patience than most of us possessed, to refrain from swearing. Some
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 41
of the boys, whose abilities to overcome obstacles seemed super-
human, succeeded in boiling coffee.
At daylight we built fires and tried to dry our blankets
'862. before marching, as a wet blanket is no light load to tote
Saturday,
March 22. °^^' ^ mountain. About 9 o'clock we took up the
line of march to Snicker's Gap in the Bull Run Moun-
tains, passing through Berryville, where we stopped for half an hour
or more, and where we saw some pretty girls, which prompted one of
the boys to sing that song which includes :
" And the captain with his whiskers
Took a sly glance at me."
Though nothing but a village, it had a few stores and a hotel,
so we were able to provide ourselves with some of the delicacies ex-
posed for sale. We then proceeded across the Shenandoah River, by
means of a pontoon bridge, and up the mountain to a level plain in
Snicker's Gap, where we pitched tents for the night in a beautifiil
pine grove, and where we found plenty of good water.
Continued the march about 7 o'clock, passing down
Sunday, '^^ ^^^*- ^^^^ °^ *^^ mountain through the village of
March 23. Snickersville and on to Aldie, eighteen miles. A good
day's work for Sunday. The colonel was good enough
to compliment us on our marching. Well, taffy is an article that
pleases soldiers just the same as it does others of God's children.
Orders were issued by General Abercrombie not to meddle with fence
rails. There was never anything invented in the shape of wood that
would make a better or quicker fire than a fence rail. As the colo-
nel had already given orders not to take any but the top rail, we
adhered strictly to that humorous injunction.
Remained in camp until 5 P.M., when we received
Monday orders to return to Berryville with the greatest possible
March 24. haste. Banks had been, or was about to be, attacked by
Jackson, hence the necessity of our being near when
needed. We should have liked it much. better if Jackson had made
his attack before we left Winchester, and not waited until we were
forty miles away.
42 THREE TEARS liV THE ARMY.
1862. Wading through streams had been disastrous to the
home-made boots of a good many of the boys, who
found it impossible to get them on to their feet, and were therefore
oWiged to walk in stockings or go barefoot. As stockings were a
poor protection, there were some pretty sore feet by the time the
eighteen miles were accomplished. Mile after mile of this weary
march we counted off, until at last the little stone church in
Snickersville, at the foot of the mountain, appeared in sight, lighted
as if for a social gathering. The temptation to stop was very
great, and many there were in the brigade who availed themselves
of the opportunity.
\Vhat a scene was presented to view on entering the door !
Men were lying on the seats, under the seats, in the aisles, in the
pulpit ; every available spot, large enough to stow a body, was found
to be occupied, until they were packed as closely as sardines in a
box. Though every lamp in the church was lighted, there was no
one awake to enjoy it; all were snoring away like so many pigs,
reminding one of a pond of bull-frogs on a summer's night. " Be-
hold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together
in unity."
One of our boys finding no place whereon to lay his head,
trudged up the mountain and rejoined the regiment, which had al-
ready pitched tents on the same ground occupied by it two nights
before. " Where have you been? " was the inquiry that greeted him
as he entered the tent. " To church," he answered. " Yes," said
another, " he probably stopped to p-r-e-y."
When reveille was sounded, it seemed as though we
Tuesday, had been asleep but a few minutes. We stretched our-
March 25. selves into shape, however, answered to roll-call, cooked
our " regular coffee," and prepared to march at 9 o'clock, k
About a mile from camp, as we reached the brow of the mountain,
we were informed that the pontoon bridge over the Shenandoah was
carried away, and that we should be obliged to wait until it was
rebuilt before continuing our journey. These were tidings of great
joy, affording us an opportunity of sleeping or gazing on the beautiful
valley of this attractive river, and a lovelier sight never greeted the
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 43
1862. eye of man. An opportunity was also afforded those
who needed them to draw shoes from the quartermaster.
Some of us, afflicted with more pride than sense, had been having
our boots made to order and sent out from home, and now became
acquainted, for the first time, with the virtues of an " army shoe,"
and in a few days were ready to testify that we never saw a shoe so
well adapted for its purpose.
About 3 o'clock we resumed our march down the mountain,
crossed the river and were well on our way toward Berr)rville, when
a courier from General Banks met us with an order to return j so back
up the mountain we marched to our camp-ground in the woods,
where for the third time we pitched our tents, " Dei gratia," as
General Rosecrans says in one of his orders.
At 8 o'clock A.M. we started down the mountain
Wednesday, on the road to Aldie, again passing through the village
March z5. of SnickersviUe, where, as before, our appearance ruffled
the tempers of tJie villagers, who expressed their con-
tempt by making faces and calling us " Miserable Yankees." We
were not disturbed at these exhibitions, though some of the boys ex-
ercised their wit in rather irritating words. As we passed by the
httle stone church we noticed it was closed. Where were all the
pious pilgrims who occupied it two nights ago ? We halted at Goose
Creek for the night, in a beautiful piece of woods. We had hardly
dropped our knapsacks when the order was given to "fall in," in-
formation having been received that the enemy was advancing toward
us from Aldie. We soon learned that the alarm was false, and, to our
delight, the order was countermanded.
The spot selected for our camp was in a beautiful piece of woods,
in close proximity to a clear, sparkling brook, but its situation with
respect to a rail' fence, upon which we relied for our fuel, was a bad
one, inasmuch as it necessitated our walking by the general's tent, if
we succeeded in getting any of that forbidden fruit called rails. As
soon as tents were pitched, men from each company, in merry mood,
started for rails, without the least suspicion that General Abercrombie
had placed his tent on the side of the road at the very point where
they expected to get them. Their chagrin, as they saw the general.
44 THBJSE TEARS IN TBE ARMY.
i86a. like a watch-dog, sitting in front of his tent facing the
very fence they proposed to seize, is not easily described.
The ill-luck which is said to accompany the number thirteen
seemed to acquire justification while we were with Abercrombie.
His prejudice against us was unaccountable, considering we had
been under his command but a week. If any man in the brigade
was caught violating an order, the general's first instinct was to
suspect the offender as being a Thirteenth man. In this particular
instance, men belonging to other regiments and companies could be
plainly seen beyond, helping themselves to rails without hindrance, so
it was easy to reason that a change had taken place in his feelings
about not touching them, though the boys hardly dared to take them
from under his very nose, as it was too much like bearding the lion
in his den. Suddenly he disappeared in his tent. Such an apparent
dispensation of Providence was made the most of. As rapidly as
possible they loaded themselves with all the rails they could carry,
and hurried back to camp, careful to niake no noise as they passed
his tent. Just as they were congratulating themselves on escaping
observation, the general suddenly made his appearance.
" His brow was sad; his eye beneath
Flashed like a falchion from its sheath."
Above the braying of hungry mules could be heard his shrill voice
shouting, "Fut down those rails J" Appreciating that prompt and
cheerful obedience is one of the attributes of a good soldier, they
hurried along with might and main to obey his order, but the spot
selected was not where he wanted them "put down." The greatest
soldiers will oflen differ about the interpretation of an order. As
nothing was said about the particular spot where the rails were to be
put down, the boys could only guess what might be his wishes. As
oflen happens, they guessed wrong. Once again he yelled, "D ^M
YOU, PUT DOWN THOSE RAILS ! " As they turned into the woods to the
camp, the rails on their shoulders took every sort of angle. While
one might be poking into the ground, another would be pointed to
the sky, while others would steer off to the right or lefl, — all wanting
to go in different directions, making it an embarrassing piece of work
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 45
1862. to pilot them among the trees. At last the boys reached
camp, completely blown and considerably scared with the
fear that an aid might soon come with an order for them to appear
before General Abercrombie. This anticipation, however, did not
interfere with building fires, as that work proceeded at once, and
very soon the odor of boiling coffee could be distinguished.
As time wore on, and no officer appeared with a summons, courage
returned, and more rails were procured — this time without attracting
notice. Very soon the men gathered round huge fires to listen to
songs, or to hear the latest gossip. A common topic of discussion
during this early part of our service was the probability of our return
home in a few days, without seeing any fighting.
About 3.30 A.M. the long roll was sounded, and in
u s ay, pQjjjpa^jjy ^(.j^ ^jjg Sixteenth Indiana Infantry, a section
of artillery and a squadron of cavalry, we made a
reconnoissance to Middleburg, about six miles away, with
the hope of surprising a rebel camp in that town. The morning was
bright and clear and the air delightfully invigorating. Though we
marched as fast as we could, we found the enemy had been warned
of our approach in season to leave without the risk of a battle,
whereupon we were halted in the main street of this pretty town for
an hour's rest before returning to camp. During our temporary
stay the boys made good use of their time by skirmishing for some-
thing to eat.
Our trip was not wholly devoid of fun, as will be seen by the
following incident which occasioned the ■ remark, " Who stole the
honey ? " that has been so often repeated at our regimental gatherings
since the war. One of the boys having discovered a beehive,
seized it and returned to the regiment with it in his arms ; while a
short distance away, the loser, like Aristaeus of old, was exclaiming,
" Mother ! they've stolen my bees ! " As the forager approached the
regiment he was greeted with shouts of laughter, and " Put down that
honey !" Though bedaubed with the contents of the hive, and
presenting the most ridiculous appearance, he was in no way discon-
certed at the uproar he created, and so had both honey and friends
with whom to share it.
46 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. Started at 8 A.M. and marched eighteen miles to
Friday, Pleasant Valley, on the road to Centreville. A hot day
and a dusty road.
Marched to Blackburn's Ford, seven miles, passing
Saturday, through Centreville. A part of the way we marched
March 29.
across the fields. We halted about an hour at Centreville
in some rebel huts, which protected us from a driving snow-
storm. Resumed our march, in snow and rain, to our destination,
near the Bull Run battlefield, where we found another lot of huts,
the recent quarters of the Washington Artillery from New Orleans.
Some of the men preferred tents. There were a good many evidences
about these huts that showed a festivity not common in the Union
army — such as champagne and whiskey bottles. Some of their
mess-houses were embellished with signs such as "Yahoos," "Rest
for the Pilgrims," " Pot-pourri," etc., etc.
A good deal of interest was shown among the boys to investigate
our surroundings on this unfortunate field, which looked more like a
graveyard than anything else. One of the boys counted seventy
dead horses in the last two miles of our march. It is said these
horses were starved to death for want of forage. The odor that
penetrated the camp was very disagreeable.
The seventh day of the week. The day on which the
March^'^o ^^^ rested. As it rained hard all day, we also rested,
though no chime of bells saluted the ear.
Some of the boys complained that the water we were drinking had
a bad taste. An investigation showed there was reason why it should
as it flowed through the putrid remains of a dead horse a short dis-
tance above where we took it. To complain about a little thing like
that showed what mere tadpoles of soldiers we were in comparison
with our experience later on — after our taste had been cultivated by
rancid pork, mouldy hardtack, and buggy coffee. Yes, we still re-
tained some of the fastidious and dainty habits of the sybarite.
About 4.30 P.M. we marched to Manassas, five miles,
Monday, ^^^^ ^ corduroy road, and went into camp. A more
Marcn 31. /^ j c ^ ■> i-..-
(jOQ-torsaken place than Manassas Junction was never
About everything, even to houses, were found to be in
ruins.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 47
i86z. On our way here, a batch of forty-five recruits met us,
and a fine set of boys they were. They struck us just
as the hard times were beginning, and at a time when the selfish
propensities of some of the boys had been excited into activity, as
negotiations were imimediately begun for the exchange of old worn-
out dippers, for the bright new ones just brought out from Boston.
Upon the untruthful representation that the old dippers were captured
or found on the battlefield, the new recruits showed great eagerness
to possess them. The exchange was completed so quickly that warn-
ing came too late to be of service to some of the recruits. The trans-
action was so emphatically condemned by the regiment that most of
the dippers were returned.
"All- Fools' day " was sunny and warm. Recruits were
Tuesday, assigned to various companies, choice being allowed those
April I. who had friends with whom they wished to serve.
We spent the day, while waiting for the supply train
to bring us shoes and rations, in looking over the earthworks thrown
up by the enemy, and examining the ruined shops, houses, etc.
Marched fourteen miles by the Orange & Alexandria
Wednesday, Railroad track to Warrenton Junction. The highway
April 2. vvas terribly muddy, and the distance by it twice as long.
As the company wagons failed to reach us, we turned in
supperless. In theory, marching on a railroad is much more fatigu-
ing than on the highway. It didn't seem to be so in this case, as the
men arrived in excellent order and condition. Bivouacked in the
woods. From the manner in which the rails were torn up and
twisted, it was evident our progress was to be delayed as much as
possible. The shapes into which they were turned gave rise to
the name "Jeff. Davis' cravats."
No breakfast. Surely this must be " Fast day."
Thursday, "Where, oh, where are the teams?" We listened in
Aprils. vain for
" That all-softening, overpowering knell.
The tocsin of the soul — the dinner-bell."
In the afternoon the teams arrived, bringing tents and food, and all
were happy.
48 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMT.
1862. Put the camp in order, that is, as good order as could
Friday, ^^ ggj. q^j ^f ^ swamp-hole. We wondered who selected
^" *■ this spot for a camp. Fresh meat was issued. After we
had removed every particle of meat from the bones,
General Blenker's corps, who were in camp near us, took the leavings,
such as bones, entrails, etc., and had a regular Thanksgiving dinner
on what our luxurious natures discarded as useless. In the afternoon
the Ninth New York band entertained us with music, and not to be
outdone in courtesy, we sent our band to their camp. We enjoyed
their music and likewise the courtesy which prompted it.
Sutler arrived. The following order was received :
Saturday,
April s.
Washington, D.C, April 4, 1862.
Maj.-Gen. George B. TAcClX-iAJM, Fort Munroe ;
Two new departments have this day been created, one called the Department of
the Shenandoah, under the command of Major-General Banks, comprising that
portion of Virginia and Maryland lying between the Mountain Department and
the Blue Ridge; the other to be called the Department of the Rappahannock,
under the command of Major-General McDowell, comprising that portion of
Virginia east of the Blue Ridge and west of the Potomac and Fredericksburg and
Richmond Railroad, including the District of Columbia and the country between
the Potomac and Patuxent.
(Signed) L. THOMAS,
Adjutant- General.
It will be seen by this that we were now a part of the Department
of the Rappahannock.
Company D, with one company from each regiment in
Sunday ^^ brigade and a section of artillery, went out on a re con-
April 6. noissance to the Rappahannock River, and a rough time
they had of it in the rain, hail, and snow, one or the other
of which prevailed all the time, while the mud was indescribable.
They left camp at 1 1 P.M.
Inspection. How we loved this duty ! Services by the chaplain,
who preached to us about following the flag, it being an allegorical
piece of word-painting, inspired by a few words he overheard a man
in the New York Ninth say on the way up Snicker's Mountain, as
that regiment was ordered to " fall in."
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 49
i86a. The following communication was this day sent to
General McClellan by Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War :
Your instructions to McBowell did not appear to contemplate the removal of
his force until some time this week. The enemy were reported to be still in
force at Gordonsville and Fredericksburg, and threatening Winchester and the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The force under Banks and Wadsworth was
deemed by experienced military men inadequate to protect Winchester and the
railroad, and was much less than had been fixed by your corps commanders as
necessary to secure Washington. It was thought best, therefore, to detach either
McDowell or Sumner, and as part of Sumner's corps was already with you, it was
concluded to retain McDowell.
This order was commented on by General McClellan in a private
letter, as follows :
Near Yorktown, April 6, 1862.
While listening this P.M. to the sound of the guns, I received an order
detaching McDowell's corps from my command. It is the most infamous thing
that history has recorded. I have made such representations as will probably
induce a revocation of the order, or at least save Franklin to me.
It is interesting to know that he succeeded in saving Franklin's
corps. At the time when this was written one might excuse such a
statement in a man whose anger had run away with his judgment, but
after the lapse of twenty years to repeat it, as he has done in " His
Own Story," seems incredible. " The most infamous thing recorded
in history! " To a man of McClellan's conceit it may be natural
that he should consider the events of history as insignificant in com-
parison with his personal annoyances.
The effect of this order, so far as we were concerned, was
important, inasmuch as it completely changed the current of our
service.
Monday, General Abercrombie made the following report of the
April 7. reconnoissance in which Company D took part :
A reconnoissance was made last night to the river where a picket guard and a
few infantry were discovered, occupying what appears to be rifle-pits and two
small redoubts of recent construction covering the fords. Some of the slaves
who have come in say the rebels appear to be retiring.
We wished as much might be said of the mud.
50 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. We were obliged to resort to various devices to keep
Tuesday, f^Q^ jyi^g in the water, as our camp was only suitable for
^P"' *■ amphibious animals. It was a great place for malarial
diseases, and was known as « Camp Misery." News was
received of the taking of " Island No. 10," whereupon "the bands
began to play."
On this day General McClellan wrote as follows, according to " His
Own Story " :
I have raised an awful row about McDowell's corps. The President very coolly
telegraphed me yesterday that he thought I had better break the enemy's lines at
once ! I was much tempted to reply that he had better come at once and do it
himself.
The weather had been so abominable that the wagons
Wednesday, were delayed, and hence our rations were short. Snowed
April 9. hard in the afternoon, in spite of the fact that we were
in " Ole Virginny."
The following is taken from a letter of the President to General
■McClellan, dated April 9, 1862 :
My Dear Sir: Your despatches, complaining that you are not properly sus-
tained, while they do not offend me, do pain me very much.
After you left, I ascertained that less than twenty thousand unorganized men,
without a single field battery, were all you designed to be left for the defence of
Washington and Manassas Junction; and part of this even was to go to General
Hooker's old position. General Banks' corps, once designed for Manassas Junc-
tion, was diverted and tied up on the line of Winchester and Strasburg, and could
not leave it without again exposing the upper Potomac and the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad. This presented, or would present, when McDowell and Sumner should
be gone, a great temptation to the enemy to turn back from the Rappahannock
and sack Washington. My implicit order that Washington should, by the judg-
ment of all the commanders of army corps, be left entirely secure, had been ne-
glected. It was precisely this that drove me to detain McDowell.
I do not forget that I was satisfied with your arrangement to leave Banks at
Manassas Junction; but when that arrangement was broken up, and nothing was
substituted for it, of course I was constrained to substitute something for myself.
And allow me to ask, do you really think I should permit the line from Richmond
via Manassas Junction, to this city, to be entirely open, except what resistance
could be presented by less than twenty thousand unorganized troops? This is a
question which thfc country will not allow me to evade. There is a curious mystery
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 61
1862, about the number of troops now with you. When I telegraphed you
on the 6th, saying you had over a hundred thousand with you, I
had just obtained from the Secretary of War a statement taken, as he said, from
your own returns, mailing one hundred and eight thousand then with you and
fn route to you. You now say you will have but eighty-five thousand when all
en route to you shall have reached you. How can the discrepancy of twenty-
three thousand be accounted for?
As to General Wool's command, it is doing for you precisely what a like num-
ber of your own would have to do if that command was away. I suppose the
whole force which has gone forward for you is with you by this time. And, if so,
I think it is the precise time' for you to strike a blow. By delay, the enemy will
relatively gain upon you ; that is, he will gain faster by fortifications and reen-
forcements than you can by reenforcements alone. And once more let me tell
you, it is indispensable to you that you strike a blow. I am powerless to help this.
You will do me the justice to remember I always insisted that going down the
bay in search of a field, instead of fighting at or near Manassas Junction, was only
shifting, and not surmounting a difficulty; that we would find the same enemy,
and the same or equal intrenchments, at either place. The country will not fail
to note — is now noting — that the present hesitation to move upon an intrenched
enemy is but the story of Manassas repeated. I beg to assure you that I have
never written to you or spoken to you in greater kindness of feeling than now, nor
with a fuller purpose to sustain you, so far as, in my most anxious judgment, I
consistently can. But you must act.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
Mud knee-deep. Drinking-water, which was obtained
Thursday, , sinking a barrel in the ground, was very bad. This
April 10. ,., , ,. . , .
didn t seem so extraordinary to us inasmuch as it was
never good. A mild and pleasant day. As the sun
warmed the air, the camp looked like a Turkish bath. The name
of the camp was changed to-day from " Misery " to " Starvation."
A number of the boys left behind at Hagerstown, sick,
Friday, returned to camp to-day. A nice place for a sick man.
April II. 'Y\i& .following order was sent to General McDowell by
the Secretary of War, dated April 1 1 :
Sir : For the present, and until further orders from this Department, you will
consider the national capital as especially under your protection, and make no
movement throwing your force out of position for the discharge of this primary
duty.
52 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. A thorough inspection of everything we owned was
Sunday, made to-day, though we were brought up to believe Sun-
*P"^ '3' day was a day of rest. This inspection business came
painfully often, we thought. We seemed to have had a
good deal of labor for the amount of fighting expected of us. The
boys were getting listless. It must be that malaria was getting in its
work. The idea prevailed that if we didn't move camp pretty soon,
the trump would sound for the last " grand inspection."
Had a brigade review before General Abercrombie,
Monday, ^^^^^ j-^^j. j^jj^g g.^^ camp. Our respect for him had de-
^^"^ ^* scended to the point of calling him « Old Crummy."
An order was issued to-day that Sections 573 to 593
Wednesday ,and 399 to 432 be read each day to the guard ; then it
April 16. ^gjjj on to say : " Further, every sentinel will be
required to keep his uniform and equipments in good
order. Neatness and uniformity of appearance are among the first
requisites of every true soldier."
The malaria must have struck in at headquarters when that order
was prompted, or else they were having mighty little to do. Drilling
two hours in the mud, each afternoon, to be told afterwards that
" neatness is the first requisite of every true soldier," caused an
immediate flow of adjectives.
Paymaster's shekels put a halo on the camp, notwith-
Friday, standing we were ordered by the doctor to put vinegar
April 18. jntQ the water before drinking it. What was the matter
with whiskey? Sofl bread was issued to us to-day; for
the first time, it is said.
Instructions received about drawing and issuing whiskey
Sunday, in cases of excessive fatigue and exposure. Very few of
April 21. ug that didn't think we had both these complaints.
It took a good deal of exposure and a large amount of
fatigue before the rank and file warmed the cockles of their hearts
by virtue of that order.
The rain which we were having almost every day added
Wednesday, no improvement to our camp in the " Dismal Swamp,"
April 23. as some of the boys called it.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 53
1862. An inspection was made to-day of the men who were
thought to be unfit for the hard duty we were expecting
shortly to undertake, with a view of their discharge.
Orders were issued to commanders of regiments and by them to
captains of companies to forward a list of men who were deemed
physically disqualified to encounter the hardships and deprivations
soon to follow, that they might be discharged. There were men in
the regiment whose patriotism was so sincere and so earnest that
when selected to be sent home, they considered it a great hard-
ship, and were very severe in their strictures on their officers. Their
willingness to do duty was unquestioned, and in a few instances it
became a delicate and an almost painful duty to make the selection,
but the order was imperative. The army was not to be encumbered
with sick men if it was possible to prevent it, and the time had ar-
rived when the physical abilities of each man were known. We
mention this in justice to the officers, some of whom were very
severely criticised for their action in this matter. The hardships and
privations which followed their departure, though light in comparison
to those of 1863-4, were very severe, because they were new to us.
It would have taken but a few weeks to convince the men selected
for discharge of the soundness of the order.
Chaplain returned yesterday from Boston, bringing
. ., ' letters.
April 28.
Orders were issued to the picket-guard that white per-
sons in the employ of rebel officers, or others opposed to the U. S.
Government, would not be permitted to pass within the line of pickets
Nineteen guns were fired in honor of the capture of New Orleans.
The boys grumbled because the brigade was not sent back to
General Banks. The report was that such a promise was made some
weeks previous.
Tuesday '^^^ following order was this day sent to Gen. Banks :
5' '■ War Department, May :, 1862.
Major-General Bakks, JVem Market :
General Abercrombie has been relieved, and General HartsuiT assigned to his
command, with orders to report to General McDowell temporarily, and it is
necessary for that force to operate in McDowell's department.
(Signed) EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
54 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. We were glad when the news reached us that " Old
Crummy " was going. If the new brigadier would only
change our camp to a more salubrious spot, he would receive our last-
ing gratitude, was the thought that dwelt uppermost in our minds.
Hangman's day. The following communication was
Friday, sent to the Secretary of War :
May 2.
Warrenton Junction, May 2, 1862.
Reconnoissances to Warrenton, nine miles, show no enemy in front, and none
reported nearer than Culpepper Court House. Prevailing rumor that Jackson
went to Gordonsville, thence to Yorktown. I do not believe it. Will keep
myself well posted and report. Present effective strength of brigade, five regi-
ments, two of cavalry, and three batteries — 5,458 men. Comfortable in respect to
supplies, but a great deal of sickness. Four hundred and eighty-six present
sick. Two hundred and eighteen absent, sick, in various places. Two Indiana
regiments to be mustered out on the ninth. Rfteen hundred and thirty-two
effective men. One hundred and seventy-five sick. Two of the batteries require
recruits — one thirty-seven, the other twenty-nine. Much crippled. Could be
filled from Indiana regiments about leaving service. Asked permission of General
Thomas yesterday, and stated how it could be done. No reply. Please spur him
up. Situation of camp unhealthy. Request permission ta change it to Warrenton
or some better place in front. Will send to General McDowell concerning it
Country in immediate vicinity stripped and desolate. Task of correcting
impressions left by Blenker's command very hard, but is being performed.
Respectfully,
GEO. L. HARTSUFF,
Srigatiier- General.
There was a vigor as well as thoughtfulness about this communica-
tion that suggested the possibility of our being moved out of the
" Slough of Despond " in which we were living.
We had a visit from General Hartsuff to-day. We were glad to
learn he was making efforts to change our camp, though he should
have been careful about thrusting too much happiness on us at once.
It was a sad sight to see some of the boys, emaciated with sickness,
and more fit to be abed, walking about camp braced up with a sickly
smile of thanks at the idea of moving from this hot-bed for pen-
sioners.
In appearance, General Hartsuff was a tall, well-proportioned
man of commanding presence, his face giving evidence that he would
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 65
1862. require prompt and respectful obedience, a virtue we had
allowed to become choked with the weeds of disrespect.
He was the very opposite of General Abercrombie in age, physical
appearance, and temper. General Abercrombie graduated from West
Point in 182 1, and had, therefore, at the date of his connection with
us, seen forty-one years of service. Upon leaving us he was assigned
to duty under General McClellan, where it is said he did excellent
service before his retirement, which soon followed. Those who were
closely associated with him, as staff-ofScers, say that notwithstanding
his hasty temper, he was just and kind to his subordinates, whom he
held to a strict performance of their duties, allowing no interference in
them from others. For obvious reasons these good qualities escaped
the attention of men who served in the ranks. As we saw him he
seemed possessed of an irritable temper, for when excited, he was in
the habit of using harsh and, to our notions, unreasonable language.
We must admit his temper was sorely tried, as we were often caught
violating his orders about fence rails, and frequently forgetting to pay
the respect due his age or his rank. We were too fond of exciting
his temper by acts unbecoming in us. We were young and thought-
less, while he was old and impatient from a long and faithful ser-
vice. For one reason or another he failed to command our respect,
and so didn't get it. We misunderstood him as, perhaps, he did us ;
we made no allowance for a man who had been more than twenty
years in the service of his country before most of us were bom, be-
cause we were unacquainted with the fact ; but as we look back to
that youthful period of our lives, the thought will suggest itself, that
possibly a good deal of the misunderstanding was due to ourselves.
The testimony of those who knew him best is that he was a fine old
fellow. It is certain, however, that we needed discipline when Gen-
eral Hartsuff made his appearance.
Moved camp to a hill about two miles back, and nearer
Monday, Washington. The camp was beautifully situated and
May 5- excited a feeling of joy among the boys. It was pleasant
to once again see cheerful faces.
We bade good-by to the Twelfth and Sixteenth Indiana regiments
which started for home, their terms of enlistment (one year) having
expired.
56 THESE YEAES IN THE AEMY.
'They were looked upon with envy by some of us.
The passion for decorating camp broke out again;
'^^^' streets were ornamented with boughs and trees, making
Tuesday, .
jjayg. an effective picture.
In the afternoons, after battalion drill, the game of
base-ball daily occupied the attention of the boys. On one of these
occasions, General Hartsuff riding by, got off his horse and requested
permission to catch behind the bat, informing us there was nothing
he enjoyed so much. He gave it up after a few mmutes and rode
away, having made a very pleasant impression, without in the least
sacrificing his dignity or suggesting the lessening of his discipline, the
cords of which we already noticed were tightening. It was pretty
certain he was testing us one way or another. We were subsequently
informed that when General Hartsuff took command of the brigade
he made inquiries about the qualifications of the regiments compos-
ing it, all of whom were spoken of in words of praise except the
Thirteenth, the members of which being characterized as " a d — d
insubordinate lot." As General Hartsuff had some practical notions
about estimating soldiers, he reserved his judgment until such time
as he could satisfy himself by his own observation.
The morning after our camp-ground was changed, at an early hour,
before officers or men were supposed to be up, except, of course, the
guard, he walked into our camp to see what its condition might be.
General Hartsuff was an exacting officer in this respect, as all West
Point officers were. The cleanliness of our camp was the one thing
of all others in which the regiment took a special pride, and this oc-
casion was no exception, and its appearance wiped out all the severe,
though not untruthful words of General Abercrombie.
Among the rations issued to the army were beans. For a long
time it was the custom of company cooks to stew them in large
kettles. This method of cooking them was not very satisfactory, but
was pursued until some one hit on the plan of baking them in the
ground, which was done by digging a hole large enough to receive
the biggest camp-kettle. When this was done, a fire was built in the
hole and kept going all day. The beans, having been parboiled and
properly seasoned, were placed in the kettle with a liberal allowance
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 57
i86z. of pork, and sunk into the hole, resting on the embers,
where it remained until morning. On the top of the
kettle, after it had first been covered by a mess-pan, flat stones were
placed and a fire built on them. In the morning the stones were
removed and the kettle lifted out for the distribution of its contents.
With proper attention to details, the result was sure to be an un-
quaUfied success.
While walking about the camp General Hartsuff came suddenly
upon the cook of one of the companies, who was at that moment too
busily engaged in removing the stones and snuffing the aroma from
a kettle of beans to notice or care who the intruder was, supposing,
of course, it must be some comrade from a neighboring tent.
" Good morning," said' the general.
" Good morning," growled the cook.
" What have you there? " said the general.
" Beans, you d — n fool, what do you s'pose? "
" I'm fond of beans," remarked the general, " and wouldn't mind
if I had some, they look so nice," he continued.
Without looking round, the cook replied, " Go to h — 1 ! S'pose we
feed every d — n bummer round camp? "
This was too much for the general, who returned to his tent with-
out being identified, and lying down on his bed, indulged in unre-
strained laughter, until his quartermaster (who was our quartermas-
ter detailed for duty on his staff) inquired the cause of his mirth.
After hearing the story, the quartermaster rode over to camp to learn
who was the hero of this adventure, and, if possible, have a little fun
at the man's expense. He soon discovered that it was the cook of
Company I, whom he accosted and explained the circumstance of
the morning. The cook was terribly agitated when it was related to
him that General HartsufF was the man with whom he was talking in
the morning, and that he was grievously offended, and meant to
make an example of this piece of insubordination. After playing on
his feelings for some time, the quartermaster suggested that perhaps
the temper of the general might be soothed if a dish of these same
beans was sent to him. It is hardly necessary to add that the gen-
eral was not only liberally provided that morning, but each subse-
quent morning when beans were cooked for the company.
58 TBSEE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. An order was sent to General McDowell by the Sec-
Wednesday, i-etary of War " to get his force well in hand for move-
^^^ ''' ment, and push on his bridges to as rapid completion as
possible. It is not yet perfectly clear what the move-
ment of the force lately in Yorktown will be."
We saw General Hartsuff riding into camp every day,
Thursday, watching our drills and observing us generally. Every
May 8. man was made to come to his feet and salute as he passed,
and woe betide the man who forgot that duty. Already
the officers, it was said, had been told that " obedience is the first
duty of a soldier." Some of the boys still growled at the tautness of
the discipline, but as a rule they cordially acquiesced. It was begin-
ning to dawn upon us that he was a man of sense as well as strict-
ness. We were beginning to like him, though no great love had
yet been expressed.
The colonel exercised his skill in drilling us every
n "Xi afternoon, and we found it tough work.
May 9.
The band of the Twelfth Massachusetts left for home
to-day. We hoped the day was far distant when we
should lose ours. These evidences of curtailment suggested that
some work was being cut out for us.
The following order from General Hartsuff was read at dress
parade :
Headquarters, Second Brigade,
Camp Stanton, May 9, 1862.
In passing through the camps of his command, the general commanding the
brigade observes very much to commend and be proud of in the general appear-
ance and drill and intelligence of the men. There is, however, in some
regiments, a grave defect which officers and men must set themselves immediately
at work to correct. It is a lack of the proper respect and attention in the manner
of the soldier to his officer. Nothing produces a more favorable impression of
the character and discipline of troops than stri&t attention to these forms.
Soldiers, instead of saluting in a lounging, careless manner, or even lying stretched
at full length, or sitting on the ground, as has been observed when officers pass,
should instantly assume an erect position, and soldierlike, manly bearing, and
salute his officer in the proper manner. The same position and appearance
should also be kept in addressing an officer, instead of putting the hands on the
hips, or leaning against something for support.
Strict attention to this will hereafter be required on the part of all officers and
soldiers.
TaiETEENTII MASS. VOLS. 59
l852. "ATTENTIO^f, COMPANY ! "
Saturday, -j-jjg following was sent to the Secretary of War by
General McDowell :
Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock,
Opposite Fredericksburg, May lo, 1862.
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
I have thrown three new regiments across the river. Have ordered Duryea's
brigade to relieve HartsufF and the latter to join me here, leaving a battery and a
regiment of cavalry vfith Duryea at Catlett's."
This seemed to destroy our hopes of getting back under Banks,
which we had been looking forth to.
The following inquiry was made of General McDowell
"° ^^' by the Secretary of War :
Could not Gordonsville and Charlottesville be easily reached by a sudden dash
of HartsufFs forces in concert with yours, and the railroad bridges either held or
broken, so that they could not be used by the enemy, either retreating or advanc-
ing?
The brigade was reviewed by General Hartsuff, after which we
escorted the Twelfth Massachusetts back to its camp.
An order was issued to-day by General Hartsuff to march to-mor-
row. Among other matters appeared the following paragraphs :
Tents will be struck, the baggage-wagons loaded, trains straightened out, and
the regiments formed under arms in marching order, on their respective parade
grounds. Companies will then be quickly inspected by the captains, under super-
vision of the colonels. Cartridge-boxes and canteens will be full, and at the
signal, the line of march will be taken up.
During the march no straggling will be permitted. The march at starting,
and after each halt, will be in close order, at " shouldered arms," until the column
is in motion, when the command " route step," given from the head of the column,
will be rapidly repeated to the rear. Captains will fall to the rear of their com-
panies, leaving a lieutenant in front, and will see that none of their men leave
the ranks without written permission, for which purpose each will prepare before-
hand a number of slips of paper, or a little book. If a soldier leaves the ranks
temporarily for a necessary purpose, his arms and equipments will be distributed
amongst and carried by his set of fours until his return. The rear-guard will take
into custody all stragglers without permission, and will turn them over to the
provost marshal after arriving in camp.
" Oh, Tom ! Cold tea ! "
60 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
CHAPTER IV.
1862. Hot day. Uniform coats were packed and sent to
Monday, Boston, except in those instances where they were thrown
"^ '*■ away. Once again our knapsacks had grown fat with
camp life, and had to be trained down. The gossip of
the camp said the orders were " On to Richmond." In spite of the
expUcit directions of yesterday, there was a good deal of confusion
in camp, due to packing and sending superfluous baggage home.
We got away at last and marched to Elk Run, six miles, where we
bivouacked. During the night General McDowell came through the
picket line from Fredericksburg. He should have been cautioned,
when approaching a picket line in the middle of the night, to respond
to the guard's challenge with more promptness, and not wait until he
heard the clicking of the sentinel's gun before he answered, particu-
larly when he came from the outside, as he did on this particular
night. On being ordered to halt by a picket-guard, one should obey
mighty quick and answer the challenge without delay, otherwise he
might be gathered to his fathers. The salvation of the camp often
depends upon the wakefulness and quickness of the picket- guard.
On this moonlight night, General McDowell, with a large retinue,
halted quick enough, but his delay in giving the countersign might
have cost the life of himself or one of his attendants. A general
ought to know better.
About six o'clock we took up the line of march tow-
Thursday, ard Falmouth, halting late in the afternoon, after
May 13. tramping eighteen miles. The heat, which was above
one hundred degrees, with a bright sun and not a breath
of wind, was so intense that both men and horses dropped to the
ground overcome by it. On no march, before or after, were the
men so terribly affected as on this occasion. For more than a dozen
A'O^SyVWSt'/Vf'
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 61
1862. miles, the road on either side was ornamented by the
prostrate bodies of men who were unable to keep along.
More than fifty cases of sunstroke in the brigade were reported,
while only seventy-five of our regiment reached camp at the end of
the march. After dark the balance of the regiment straggled into
caqtip, so that by roll-call in the morning nearly all were present.
One of the reasons given for making the march so long was the
difficulty of finding water suitable and in sufficient quantities to sup-
ply the brigade. We were in no condition for marching, after more
than a month of comparative idleness in a swamp where the physical
condition of the men had become more or less affected by our
malarial surroundings.
At 7 A.M., in rain and mud, we resumed our march
Wednesday, through Falmouth, halting near General McDowell's
May 14. headquarters, about eight miles from our starting point.
Here we waited two hours in the rain before the regi-
mental wagons arrived. In the meantime we settled the responsi-
bility of yesterday's work by placing the blame on McDowell, not-
withstanding the question of water was said to be the real cause of
our lengthened march.
We had an evidence, to-day, of the Government's thoughtfulness,
that came quite unexpectedly. As there was "balm in Gilead," so
there appeared to be in Falmouth. Rations of whiskey had
occasionally been issued to the guard on outpost duty in the morning
after a hard night of exposure. The ni^ht the regiment bivouacked
at Bejryville, it will be remembered, was a very stormy night. When
the outpost guard returned to camp in the morning, the boys were
wet through to the skin and in a very unhappy condition. It was
thought a ration of whiskey might restore them to their usual happy
frame of mind, so the sergeant was urged by the guard to make ap-
plication to General Abercrombie, and he thereupon repaired to the
general's tent. After hearing the request, the general walked to
the door of his tent, looked at the sky, which had become clear,
and with emphatic gruffness replied, " IVe never issue whiskey in
pleasant weather ! " whereupon the sergeant hastily retreated.
The occasions when a ration of whiskey was issued to a brigade
62 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. were very rare. General Ord was convinced, however,
that on this particular day the condition of his men would
be improved by it, and we were thereupon ordered to fall in line for
that purpose. A large majority of the boys believed that nothing
ought to interfere with putting down rum, but insisted that it should
go, like all communications to or from the Government, " through
the proper channel." There were some among us, however, who,
while apparently possessing the same belief, " down with rum," dif-
fered very radically as to the manner of putting it down, as one of
their number on receiving his ration, immediately turned it on to the
ground ; a proceeding that excited a howl of indignation, not at the
waste of the material, but at so gross an act of insubordination in
disobeying the order of his superior officers, who expected him to
drink it.
We found the whiskey was highly impregnated with quinine, but as
some of the boys remarked, " the whiskey was there." It is won-
derful how this terrible enemy of mankind is able to warm so
effectually the cockles of the heart, and make the dreariest weather
seem as soft and mellow as a summer's day. We commended
General Otd very highly for this evidence of his intelligfflice.
Rained hard all day. The rain was unnecessary,
urs ay, gj^pgpj. ^^ (jgepgn the mud, which it admirably succeeded
in doing.
Occasionally the safety-valve of some soldier, wading
through it, would give way and the name of that ancient goddess,
" Helen Damnation," would be heard, expressed in the * same
emphatic tones that has accompanied her name for hundreds
of years.
The following order was received :
Friday,
May 16. Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock,
Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., May i6, 1862.
General Order, No. 13.
A division to be composed of Brigadier-Generals Ricketts' and HartsufPs brig-
ades of infantry and Brigadier-General Bayard's cavalry brigade is hereby formed
to be commanded by Major-General Ord, who will immediately proceed to organ-
ize the same. . . .
By command of Major-General McDowell.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 63
»862. We took a great fancy to General Ord, though we still
looked forward to our return to General Banks.
An order was received to make requisition for " shelter " tents.
The Eleventh Pennsylvania joined our brigade to-day.
HartsufTs brigade, as now formed, consisted of the Ninth New
York (scheduled as the Eighty-third Volunteers), the Eleventh Penn-
sylvania, and the Twelfth and Thirteenth Massachusetts, and these
regiments continued together in the same division during the re-
mainder of our service, and for many months we were together in
the same brigade, an unusual circumstance, we believe.
It is with great pleasure that we are able to speak in terms of ad-
miration of the uniform kindliness that existed among those old regi-
ments. There grew up, among the officers and men, a warm feeling
of attachment. Probably the fame it acquired was, in a great meas-
ure, due to the harmony that continued so long undisturbed. There
were no bickerings or quarrels, and whichever regiment had the ad-
vance, a feeling of reliance was felt that near by were men who were
watching for an opportunity to aid with their assistance a doubtful
moment. It always happens that when soldiers have been long to-
gether, they acquire a confidence and faith in each other that makes
their service of great value in important exigencies. The Eighty-
third New York Volunteers was the " Ninth New York National
Guard," composed of a superior class of men, whose homes were in
New York City. It was one of the old militia organizations of the
State, and was among the first regiments to volunteer for three years.
The esprif de corps which it showed in retaining its old number,
"The Ninth New York," in spite of the number assigned by the
Government, indicates the pride felt in the record it had made prior
to the war. It was commanded by Colonel Stiles.
The Eleventh Pennsylvania was another good regiment, raised
among the mountains of western Pennsylvania, and was commanded
by Colonel Richard Coulter, than whom a better fighting man
never lived. He was beloved by his old regiment, as he was by every
officer and man in the brigade.
The Twelfth Massachusetts, commanded by Colonel Fletcher Web-
ster, was in no way inferior to the others. It was nearer related to
64 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. us than either of the others, being raised in the same
community. By reason of this fact, our association was
more intimate, and as it has been our fortune to meet its members
more frequently since the war, the attachment has flourished. To
read the history of either of these regiments, is reading our own story.
Each had some qualification that attracted the admiration of the
other. If the Eleventh Pennsylvania called us the " Bandbox Guard,"
we laughed, for we knew it contained no reflection on our courage,
but had reference to our taste for prinking, which we indulged to
some extent during the early part of our service. Our battles,
marches and picket duty we shared together for many months.
Moved camp in the afternoon, about three miles on the
Saturday, road to White Oak Chapel ; a pleasant spot.
May 17. General Ord assumed command of the division.
The programme laid out for McDowell's command, of
which we still were a part, was comprehended in the following com-
munication to General McClellan, and in considering what really
followed, is interesting reading :
Washington, May 17, 1862.
Maj.-Gen. George B. Hcd-TLLAn, Commanding- Army 0/ tie Potomac, before
Richmond :
General : Your despatch asking reenforcements has been received and care-
fully considered.
The President is not willing to uncover the capital entirely, and it is believed
that, even if this were prudent, it would require more time to effect a junction
between your army and that of the Rappahannock, by the way of the Potomac
and York livers, than by a land march. In order, therefore, to increase the
strength of the attack upon Richmond at the earliest moment. General McDowell
has been ordered to march upon that city by the shortest route. He is ordered —
keeping himself always in position to save the capital from all possible attack — so
to operate as to put his left wing in communication with your right wing, and you
are instructed to cooperate so as to establish this communication as soon as
possible, by extending your right wing to the north of Richmond. It is believed
that this communication can be safely established either north or south of the
Pamunky river. In any event you will be able to prevent the main body of the
enemy's forces from leaving Richmond and falling in overwhelming force upon
General McDowell. He will move with between 35,000 and 40,000 men.
A copy of the instructions to General McDowell are with this. The specific
task assigned to his command has been to provide against any danger to the
capital of the nation.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 65
1862. At your earnest call for reenforcements he is sent forward to
cooperate in the reduction of Richmond, but charged, in attempting
this, not to uncover the city of Washington, and you will give no order, either
before or after your junction, which can put him out of position to cover this
city.' You and he will communicate with each other, by telegraph or otherwise,
as frequently as may be necessary for sufficient cooperation. When General Mc-
Dowell is in position on your right, his supplies must be drawn from West Point,
and you will instruct your staff officers to be prepared to supply him by that route.
The President desires General McDowell to retain the command of the Depart-
ment of the Rappahannock and of the forces with which he moves forward.
By order of the President,
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Memorandum in handwriting of President Lincoln of his proposed
additions to instructions of above date (may 1 7) to general
McDowell, and General Meigs' indorsement thereon.
You will retain the separate command of the forces taken with you; but
while cooperating with General McClellan you will obey his orders, except that
you are to judge, and are not to allow your force to be disposed otherwise than so
as to give the greatest protection to this capital which may be possible from that
distance.
Indorsement.
To the Secretary of War :
The President having shown this to me, I suggested that it is dangerous to di-
rect a subordinate not to obey the orders of his superior in any case, and that to
give instructions to General McClellan to this same end, and furnish General Mc-
Dowell with a.copy thereof, would effect the object desired by the President. He
desires me to say that the sketch of instructions to General McClellan herewith he
■ thought made this addition unnecessary.
Respectfully,
M. C. M.
General Meigs was right.
Indignation meetings were held, because we were to change our
" Sibley tents " for " shelters." We still retained a wonderful regard
for our personal comfort. Hard work made us cross and unreason-
able. As we recall the mutterings of discontent that found utterance
at this deprivation, we are reminded of what a distinguished English
officer says about enlisted men : " That to four out of five, the ma-
terials of army service are things of no consequence whatsoever."
Perhaps not to the man who has felt the magic power of the
66 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. "Queen's shilling," but to those of us who paid J12.50
for the privilege of enlisting in the Thirteenth Regiment,
with the expectation of sharing the colonel's tent, this seems the
veriest nonsense.
Religious services. The entire brigade being in at-
Sunday, tendance, it made a fine appearance, sitting on the
May, 1 8. grass.
Company D ordered to report to General Ord as
body-guard.
The following order was received to-day from brigade headquar-
ters :
I. Commanders of regiments and detachments of this brigade wiU send in
requisitions immediately foe sufficient ammunition to make in all 200 rounds —
small-arms and artillery.
II. It is directed from headquarters of the department that the camp equipage
of this division be reduced to the limits observed by the other divisions of the corps.
Tents will be vacated when the division marches, and turned over standing.
Shelter tents will be supplied to replace them. Baggage of officers will be re-
duced to the lowest limits. The transportation allowed is five wagons to each
regiment; one wagon to each regimental hospital; two wagons to brigade head-
quarters; twenty wagons as supply and ammunition train to each brigade quar-
termaster. Regimental and brigade quartermasters will act as ordnance officers.
It will be seen by this that the Government continued its confi-
dence in believing the private soldier would not carry more than he
thought he needed, and to his credit, be it said, that this confidence
was never abused.
An order was issued to-day by General Ord that
Attendance at divine service is not compulsory on the officers or men of his
command. The general desires and hopes to see large attendance, but leaves it
discretionary with the troops. Captains or commanders of companies will per-
mit all who apply to be excused.
Having no recollection that any such privilege was accorded the
rank and file, we conclude that, like the clouds that lowered round
the house of York, it was " in the deep bosom of the ocean buried."
In the eariy history of the country, when attending divine service,
guns were used as an antidote for premature baldness, but with the
THIRTEENTB MASS. VOLS. 67
i86a. lapse of two hundred years, the red man and his toma-
hawk had disappeared, and with him the prejudices of
our ancestors, so that, to our modern ways of thinking, the carrying
of guns to church seemed in opposition to the peaceful influences of
religion. The only reason for such action, that we could think of,
was their use as a charm to ward off the machinations of the devil,
while the chaplain got in his work for the Lord. A word should be
said in behalf of our chaplain, lest any one should suppose him un-
popular. He was liberal in thought, and an earnest and attractive
speaker, who rarely ever preached to us that he didn't say some-
thing worth hearing, to a thoughtful mind. His sermon on the text,
" Let us be jolly," the favorite saying of Mark Tapley, preached at a
time when officers and men were thoroughly disheartened, acquired
much notoriety by extensive notice in the newspapers. His tempera-
ment was so sanguine and so cheerful that his approach was always
hailed with delight. He admirably filled the duties of his position,
and had he lived, would have been the man above all others most
fitted, by education and natural gifts, to have written our history.
To us, therefore, his death was a great loss.
A review of the corps by General McDowell, and an
„ ^^' imposing spectacle it was, with nearly 40,000 men in line.
The regiments were formed en masse, and as the field
was not large enough, the extreme left was at right angle with the
main line. As our brigade was on the left we had an excellent view
of this grand and imposing spectacle. General McDowell must have
felt proud at the appearance of his command. As he rode down the
line, each regiment and detachment cheered him, until he reached
the Thirteenth, when he was met with silence. As already has been
said, we did not like him.
" We do not like you, Doctor Fell,
The reason why we cannot tell;
But this we know, and that full well,
We do not like you, Doctor Fell."
According to our idea, he appeared to be very much wrought up at
this evidence of our dislike. Whether this was true or not, every
disagreeable order that followed from his headquarters was inter-
68 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. preted, in our conceit, as the result of this lack of demon-
stration on our part. Once possessed with this idea we
took every occasion to give annoying expression to our feelings.
We had the honor of being selected as one of three regiments
to show our efficiency in drilling. So far as drilhng was concerned
it was generally conceded that the Thirteenth could hold its own
with the best regiments, as the colonel had drilled and drilled us in
the most complicated movements, and he was a genius in that line.
Only a master in the art of military drill would have dared to under-
take, on an occasion of this kind, what he did with perfect confidence
on that day. We were the last of the three regiments to march out.
Having wheeled into line and presented arms, the colonel, in that
clear voice which could always be heard the length of the line, with-
out hesitation, called out order after order for thirty minutes without
stopping to recover distances, if such were lost, until the last move-
ment was made and we were inarched off the field. We almost
forgot our dislike for McDowell in the generous applause he gave us.
In obedience to orders from General McDowell we were
J. drilled three hours a day in heavy marching order, par-
ticular attention being given to marching. As we marched
down the road, men from other regiments remarked that they pre-
ferred cheering to drilling with knapsacks, conveying the erroneous
impression that this, unusual duty was in consequence of our silence
at the review. As a matter of fact, orders for this duty had been
issued to the whole corps, though it was some time before we were
aware of it ; in the meantime we supposed we were an exception,
and unjustly scored one against McDowell.
It was hard work, but admirably fitted us for the arduous duties
we were very soon called upon to perform. Each time we turned
out for this duty our knapsacks were inspected to see that they con-
tained all our worldly goods, so there was no shirking.
The following despatch was sent to General McClellan under this
date :
Your long despatch of yesterday just received. You will have just such control
of General McDowell and his force as you therein indicate. McDowell can reach
you by land sooner than he could get aboard of boats, if the boats were ready at
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 69
i86a. Fredericksburg, unless his march shall be resisted, in which case
the force resisting him will certainly not be confronting you at
Richmond. By land we can reach you in five days after starting ; whereas by
water he would not reach you in two weeks, judging by past experience. Frank-
lin's single division did not reach you in ten days after I ordered it.
(Signed)
A. LINCOLN,
President of the United States.
Thermometer 90° in the shade. We were reviewed
Friday, this afternoon by President Lincoln, Secretary Stanton,
May 23. gjj^ Secretary Seward, accompanied by General Mc-
Dowell.
Overcoats were packed and sent away. Clothing, shoes, ammuni-
tion, etc. issued to those of us in need of such articles.
The officers were growling about the reduction of their luggage,
proving the truth of what the Lord said unto Saul, " It is hard for
thee to kick against the pricks."
In heavy marching order we marched out on the road
Saturday, to Belle Plain Landing, seven miles, in the mud, and
May 24. halted in the rain for an hour, and then returned to camp
in a cold, drenching rain, to find our " Sibley " tents had
been removed and piles of " shelter " tents distributed about, to take
their places.
We were wet through already, and muddy to the knees, so that
when this transformation greeted us, the air in spite of the rain
assumed a cerulean hue. He who couldn't swear
" Gave to mis'ry (all he had) a tear."
A worse day for such a sudden change could not have been
selected. To appreciate it one should bear in mind the description
of a " Sibley " already given. In place thereof we received a piece
of thin sheeting about four feet by six feet, in the binding of which
were buttons and buttonholes. Each man was given one piece,
with instructions to find two other men supplied with a similar piece,
and combine the three into a tent. In order to pitch your tent you
must first go into <he woods and cut crotches with a stick to rest
across the top, forming a ridge-pole, on which two of the pieces,
70 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. buttoned together, were to rest, then to be stretched out
in the shape of the letter A and fastened to the ground.
The third piece was to cover one end. By making a combination
of six pieces both ends could be closed. When properly pitched
the ridge-pole was about four feet high. To enter one of these
" dog-kennels," as they were called, you had to get down on your
knees, with your head near the earth, as though you were approach-
ing the throne of an Arabian monarch, and crawl in. Each man
was expected to carry his piece of tent in his knapsack. After we
had become accustomed to the change, which we did by the exercise
of a little patience and ingenuity, we found them not so very un-
comfortable, but in the meantime we scored another mark against
McDowell. The officers, whose tents had been taken away, were
compelled to seek shelter among the rank and file. The officers'
tents were subsequently returned.
It was at this place we were dispossessed of our camp kettles, a loss
which carried with it another privation — rice. Rice was occasionally
substituted for some other article of food, and was cooked in iron
kettles previously used for making coffee. Good housekeepers have
expended a deal of care and trouble in the preparation of this
nutritious article of diet for the table, but in the army it was allowed
to be burnt black for about three inches from the bottom of the
kettle, thereby imparting to it a peculiar flavor. Since the war we
have had no fondness for boiled rice ; we miss that burnt taste and
the delicate flavor of coffee with which it was permeated. No;
when rice is now handed round the table we say, as Mark Twain did,
« We pass."
It is not our purpose to encumber this narrative with details, or
descriptions of battles, except so far as they may add an interest or
explain the reasons for our movements;
At this time a plan had been adopted by which McDowell was to
cooperate with McClellan. It was understood that McDowell was
to move his corps along the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad
on the 24th of May, connecting, if possible, with the right wing of
McClellan's army at or near Hanover Court- House, and by turning
the left flank of the enemy, prevent his receiving reenforcements
TIIIRTBENTB MASS. VOLS. 71
1862. from the direction of Gordonsville. This plan had been
carefully considered and matured by McDowell, who had
great faith in its success, as appears in his correspondence with the
President at this time.
At this date General McDowell's army was composed of about
40,000 men, in as perfect a condition, respecting discipline and
equipment, as any army acquired during the entire war. A finer
body of troops, in health, vigor and appearance was never seen, and
General McDowell was justly proud of his command.
Just at the moment when his army was concentrated, and about
to take up its line of march to Richmond, as he notified McClellan
he would do on the 24th, news was received at Washington 'of an
attack on Banks by Stonewall Jackson, subsequently reenforced by
Ewell, detached from Lee's army. The suddenness of this intelli-
gence created the wildest alarm among the authorities for the safety
of that city, and the following order was telegraphed by the Presi-
dent to General McDowell, dated May 24, 5 P.M. :
General Fremont has been ordered by telegraph to move from Franklin on
Harrisonburg to relieve General Banks, and capture or destroy Jackson's and
Ewell's forces.
You are instructed, laying aside for the present the movement on Richmond, to
put 20,000 men in motion at once for the Shenandoah, moving on the line, or in
advance of the line, of the Manassas Gap Railroad. Your object will be to capture
the forces of Jackson and Ewell, either in cooperation with General Fremont, or
in case want of supplies or of transportation interferes with his movements. It is
believed that the force with which you move will be sufficient to accomplish this
object alone. The information thus far received here makes it probable that if
the enemy operate actively against General Banks, you will not be able to count
upon much assistance from him, but may even have to release him.
Reports received this moment are that Banks is fighting with Ewell, eight miles
from Winchester.
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
Though he obeyed the order with commendable alacrity, his dis-
appointment at the sudden upsetting of a plan upon which his mind
was fixed, was very great, as will be seen by the following communi-
cation to the President :
72 THREE TEARS IN TELE ARMY.
i862i Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock,
Opposite Fredericksburg, May 24, 1862.
(Received 9.30 P.M.)
His ExelUncy the President :
I obeyed your order immediately, for it was positive and urgent, and perhaps
as a subordinate, there I ought to stop; but I trust I may be allowed to say some-
thing in relation to the subject, especially in view of your remark, that everything
now depends upon the celerity and vigor of my movements. I beg to say that
cooperation between General Fremont and myself to cut Jackson and Ewell there
is not to be counted upon, even if it is not a practical impossibility. Next, I am
entirely beyond helping distance of General Banks; no celerity or -rigor will avail
so far as he is concerned. Next, that by a glance at the map, it will be seen that
the line of retreat of the enemy's forces up the valley is shorter than mine to go
against him. It will take a week or ten days for the force to get to the valley by
the route which will give it food and forage, and by that time the enemy «dll have
retired. I shall gain nothing for you there, and shall lose much for you here. It
is, therefore, not only on personal grounds that I have a heavy heart in the matter,
but that I feel it throws us all back, and from Richmond north we shall have all
our large masses paralyzed, and shall have to repeat what we have just accom-
pUshed. I have ordered General Shields to commence the movement by to-mor-
row morning. A second division will follow in the afternoon. Did I understand
you aright, that you vrished that I personally should accompany this expedition?
I hope to see Governor Chase to-night and express myself more fully to him.
Very respectfully,
iRviN Mcdowell.
About 4 P.M. we marched to Aquia Creek, fifteen
Sunday, miles, arriving about i A.M. The road, part of the way,
May 25. was across a swamp, so that candles were lighted to pre-
vent our tumbling into ditches. On the 26th we con-
tinued our march four miles, to the landing where the Thirteenth
took the steamer " John Brooks " for Alexandria, and where we ar-
rived in due time, after a sail of sixty-five miles up the Potomac
River. Other similar means of transportation were provided for the
remainder of the division. The severe drilling we had been undergo-
ing, the change of tents and reduction of baggage, all indicated that
some important movement was on the tapis, which camp gossips had
determined was " On to Richmond." We were very much surprised,
as we sailed up the Potomac, to learn that it was " On to Washing-
ton," for, as yet, we had not received information about Banks' re-
THIETEMNTH MASS. VOLS. 73
1862. treat. Whatever fate had in store for us, it didn't inter-
fere with our enjoyment of the sail, though our curiosity
was greatly excited to know what thi? movement meant.
In a letter to McClellan dated May 25, the President
Tuesday, gives a full statement of the situation, closing with the
May a?. following paragraphs, which he puts in italics :
/f McDowell's force was now beyond our reach, we should be entirely help-
less. Apprehension of something like this, and not unwillingness to sustain you,
has always been my reason for withholding McDowell's forces from you.
Please understand this, and do the best you can with the forces you have.
We were routed out at 3 A.M., and marched to the station in
Alexandria, where, after waiting patiently for two hours, we boarded
freight cars for Manassas Junction. Some of the boys succeeded in
procuring local newspapers, by which we became partially informed
of the excitement. The necessity of feeling our way, as we rode
along, delayed our arrival until the afternoon. We were soon in
possession of Northern papers that gave us full particulars of Banks'
movements, and lively discussions round camp-fires ensued, ending
in a generally expressed hope that we might take a hand in bagging
Jackson.
This was the beginning of that series of movements which culmi-
nated in the battle of Manassas, or, as it has sometimes been called,
« Second Bull Run."
74 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMT.
CHAPTER V.
i86z. Orders received that shovels, pickaxes, etc., were to be
Wednesday,pg^„jg(j ^,y t^e men instead of the wagons, as heretofore.
May 28. ^j^j^ caused a good deal of grumbling. In addition we
were to carry sixty rounds of cartridges, fifty in the boxes
and ten in our haversacks. Our prejudices having been excited
against McDowell, we promptly placed this disagreeable order with
the others, to his credit.
The following communication will indicate the interest felt in our
movement by the enemy :
Headquarters Harrison's, Va.,
May 28, 1862, 9 A.M.
General Lee:
General, — If McDowell is approaching, of which there can be no doubt, we
must fight very soon. Every man we have should be here. Major-General
Holmes' troops should therefore be ordered to Richmond forthwith; they may be
wanted to-morrow. I have more than once suggested a concentration here of all
available forces.
Most respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) J. E. JOHNSTON.
Nine hours later the following despatch was received by General
McDowell :
Washington, May 28, 1862, 5.40 P.M.
' General McDowell, Manassas yunction :
I think the evidence now preponderates that Ewell and Jackson are still about
Winchester. Assuming this, it is for you a question of legs. Put in all the speed
you can. I have told Fremont as much, and directed him to drive at them as fast
as possible. By the way, I suppose you know Fremont has got up to Moorefield,
instead of going to Harrisonburg?
(Signed) A. LINCOLN.
w
w
// 0-
MAP N? 5
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 75
i86a. At 6 A.M. marched to Hay Market, twelve miles,
Thursday, arriving about lo A.M., when we took, cars and rode to
Thoroughfare Gap, where we left the cars and marched
through a rough crooked defile to the west side of the
mountains and camped in an orchard. While marching to-day,
General Ord borrowed a pipe from one of the boys whom he saw
smoking ; being suddenly called away by an aid, he took it with him.
There was not a man in the Thirteenth who wouldn't have been glad
to contribute a pipe, or anything else he had, to the comfort or
pleasure of General Ord.
Started at 5 A.M. and marched through White Plains
Friday, and Salem, halting three miles from the latter place.
May 30. making a distance of fifteen miles for the day's march.
We were overtaken in the afternoon by a severe thunder-
shower which lasted all night, in consequence of which we were
completely drenched. Some of the tents were washed away by the
rain.
The following despatch was sent by General McDowell to the Pres-
ident :
I am pushing forward everything to the utmost, as I telegraphed the Secretary
of War last night. Major-General Shields did not think we could make Front
Royal before to-night. I sent him your telegram and asked him what could be
done by extraordinary exertions to accomplish your wishes that the advance qf my
force should be at Front Royal by 12 o'clock noon to- day. I informed him
of the position of affairs, and how necessary it was to get forward. He fully ap-
preciated the case, and said he would go without supplies, except what the men
could carry themselves, and would place two brigades at Front Royal by noon and
two other brigades within five miles of Front Royal by the same time. It will re-
quire driving to accomplish this, and the day is hot.
I am urging General Ord forward with all the pliysical force of the railroad and
moral power of a strong representation of the urgency of the case. He will be
beyond Rectortown to-night.
At s P.M. General McDowell sent a telegram from Piedmont to
the Secretary of War of which the following is an extract :
I was disappointed on arriving at this place at iz M. to find General Ord's
division here, only five miles from its camp of last night (although I had ordered
them to leave their knapsacks), and in much confusion. I reproached General
76 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. Ord for the condition of his command and for its not being farther
ahead. He pleaded sickness, and that he had not been well for
several days, and was now unable to hold command, which he turned over to
Brigadier-General Ricketts. I have told General Ricketts to have his division at
Front Royal by to-night.
Started at 5 A.M. and marched to Piedmont, five
Friday, miles, where we drew rations of hardtack and coffee.
Maysi. Y^^g jjjgj^ jgf(. Q^J knapsacks, taking only our blankets and
equipments, reforded the river and took up the line
of march to Front Royal. It rained hard nearly all day, so the
wetting we got in fording the rivers and brooks didn't count for much.
As we marched through Manassas Gap the water was knee-deep in
the highway in some places, and the storm so rough that we took to
the railroad. Finding the track encumbered with cars, we enjoyed
the boyish sport of dumping them over the precipice, a distance of
eighty or a hundred feet, to the valley below, where they were com-
pletely destroyed. We arrived within a mile or so of Front Royal at
I A.M., after a match of twenty-five miles, in good order, though
uncomfortably wet and tired. It rained very hard, it was very dark,
and the boys were not very affable when we finally halted for the
night. Rail fences soon supplied us with fuel, and very soon we were
standing round cheerful fires, drinking hot coffee, and thinking how
blessed is he who expects nothing, for he will not be disappointed.
About noon we marched two miles on the road to
Sunday, Strasburg, where we were turned into a field for a halt,
June I. ^jj^ where, with the rest of the corps, we were drawn up
in line of battle. While we were here Generals Shields
and Ord rode by. Being under the impression that it was to General
Shields we were indebted for the rations we drew at Piedmont
(though the fact is that it was McDowell's thoughtfulness, who, an-
ticipating our arrival at that point, had made the provision), tlie bri-
gade cheered him as he rode along. General Ord received a share
of the enthusiasm, but when General McDowell rode by there was
none to do him reverence. He must have felt this very keenly.
There was a good deal of gossip about a quarrel between McDowell
and Ord. General Shields, at the head of his division, with his
wounded arm in a sling, made quite a picturesque object, and the
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 7T
1862. fact that he was on the way to cut off Jackson, a part of
whose force we could see in the distance trailing along
the mountain-side, made him considerable of a hero, and no doubt
added a fervor to our emotions.
We were very much disappointed that we were not to join Shields
in the pursuit of Jackson.
The following was telegraphed by General McDowell at 3 P.M.
to the Secretary of War :
Heard firing this A.M. in the direction of Strasburg. Ord's division could not
be got up last night, but came up this A.M., and is considerably aroused by the
excitement of an approaching battle, and is now moving forward, replacing
Shields' division, who is on the march to Strasburg with that part of his division
nearest this place. I am directing General Ord's division (now with Ricketts) to
move on the Winchester road, supporting Bayard's cavalry brigade, and sending
strong detachments on the Luray road. There has been no firing for some
time.
It soon began to rain, which continued during the night. We
found it much easier these days to put our trust in God than to
keep our powder dry.
At noon we marched about five miles on the road to
Monday, Strasburg, and bivouacked in a pine grove. We had
June 2. scarcely reached the woods when it began to rain as
though it hadn't rained for many months, and was now
making up for lost time.
Some of the boys were sent out on picket duty; to think of any-
body, even an enemy, being out such a night, seemed ridiculous. The
boys were posted in a wheat-field, without umbrellas, the wheat the
height of a man's head, while the darkness was as densely black as
Egypt is said to be, except when the lightning revealed how impos-
sible "it was to distinguish the points of the compass, after five min-
utes in such a place. Indeed, several of the boys, when daylight did
come, found themselves facing the St. Lawrence River, instead of the
Gulf of Mexico, so bewildering was the darkness and the wheat.
When daylight came and the sun chased away the black clouds, it
brought with it a feeling of gladness, in spite of the unpleasantness
of their position.
78 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. A half-mile beyond the picket line was a large white
house surrounded with out-buildings of a similar color,
giving notice that the owner was a prosperous person.
" Who can cloy the hungry edge of appetite by bare imagination of a feast? "
A half-Starved soldier couldn't gaze on such a scene without longing
to investigate the possibilities of a breakfast. To go out beyond the
picket line was a dangerous experiment in those parts, but quite a
number of the boys set aside apprehensions of danger. One of the
party was made spokesman to negotiate for a breakfast at a price not
exceeding twenty-five cents each. There was much surprise evinced
at our appearance, and some hesitation about gratifying our wishes,
by the lady of the house. It was evident our presence was not
wanted, but we put on our best manners, assuring her we had no
intention of disturbing her peace except so far as putting some one to
the trouble of preparing a breakfast. After some further hesitation
she consented, and very soon the boys had the pleasure of eating a
breakfast of fried ham, boiled potatoes, good bread and butter and
coffee. As they raised the coffee to their lips their hostess expressed
a wish that it might poison every one of them. There was some
hesitation about drinking it, but as the boys looked at her and saw a
faint smile on her face, they concluded she was not of the poisoning
type, and so took their chances. She refused their offered recom-
pense, like the true Southerner she was, and so they distributed the
money among the servants, and marched back to camp with re-
newed strength.
Rations getting short. The whole corps was suffering for want of
food, which was being delayed because of the inefficiency of the
railroads and the bad condition of the highways. The condition of
affairs is so well depicted in the following communication of General
Shields of this date to the Secretary of War that we are tempted to
make a hberal extract from it :
Jackson passed through Strasburg Saturday and Sunday. Fremont has not
been heard from yet. There was firing at Strasburg yesterday — supposed to be
Banks in the rear. My poor command were without provisions twenty-four
hours. We would have occupied Strasburg, but dare not interfere virith what was
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 79
1862. designed for Fremont. His failure has saved Jackson. I will force
my way down to Stannardsville to cut him off, but the railroad is
miserable, and miserably managed. Cars are running off the track and coming
in collision. I never saw anything like the want of efficiency and skill in organiza-
tion. Our telegraph line ought to be in operation, but it has no working party. I
let them have my pioneers, whom I need now. General McDowell has done
everything to mend matters, but not much can be done with such means. We
have too many men here, and no supplies. How I will get along I do not know,
but! will trust to luck — -seize cattle, live on beef — to catch Jackson. I could
stampede them to Richmond had I even supplies of hard bread and a little forage.
I have no fears of their numbers, which have been ridiculously exaggerated by fear.
Early in the forenoon we advanced across the north
Tuesday, fork of the Shenandoah River, about tvi^o miles, where we
June 3. halted, drew fresh beef and flour, after which we moved
into a piece of woods near by and bivouacked for the
night. It began, to rain hard in the night and before morning the
camp was inundated with water, and a sorry mess we were in as the
water poured around us. The only thing we could do was to grab
our things and run for the railroad track, which afforded us a tem-
porary resting-place from the water.
As soon as possible we were formed in line and
Wednesday, marched rapidly back across the river. We had a nar-
June 4. row escape from being left on an island formed by this
freshet, which would have cut us off completely from the
rest of the corps, without food, or the hope of getting food until the
waters subsided, as we had barely crossed the river when the bridge
was carried away, leaving a dozen of the Thirteenth on the other
side. We marched back toward Front Royal and bivouacked in a
piece of woods on a, hill, a mile back and overlooking the town.
Our knapsacks, which we left at Piedmont, on the
Thursday, 31st of May, reached us to-day, soaked with rain and
June s- mud. We were glad to get our "shelters" again.
After our experience of the last five days we no longer
despised them. The boys were getting ragged and seedy from over-
work and exposure. We had reached that period of our service
when pork was eaten raw with pleasure. This was quite an advance
in our education as soldiers. Slowly we were being hammered into
80 THREE TEARB IN THE ARMY.
i86a. veterans. This was the kind of service that prepared
us for the campaigns of 1863—4. It told on the men
pretty severely, as our number was now reduced from 1,038 to 600
men for duty, and 94 men in the hospital.
A beautiful day. So disciplined had we become by
Friday, marching, bad weather and fasting, that we were happy
June 6. jf jj didn't rain, but when the sun appeared, our feelings
became ecstatic.
The sutler arrived with stores, and no longer we hankered for the
" flesh pots of Egypt."
The country was full of guerillas, making outpost duty dangerous
and undesirable.
The escape of Jackson was a topic of conversation and, as usual,
we wrongly credited McDowell with the responsibility.
Many of the women in the town increased their incomes by the sale
of pies to the soldiers. They could not endure the sight of a Yankee
except when he was buying some of their badly-cooked food. Some
of the young women who had nothing to sell were very " sassy," and
turned up their pretty noses. The older ones, being in the commercial
line, and married, had more sense, bent on " making hay while the
sun shines."
One of the boys who was left on the opposite side of the river
when the regiment crossed on the 4th inst., was drowned to-day
while attempting to cross in a skiff in company with a rebel. ^Vhen
about midway of the stream the boat capsized and both men were
dumped into the angry flood. The current was so strong that our
man, who was probably unable to swim, was carried out of sight in
no time. He was a man over six feet in height, well-proportioned,
and an excellent soldier. He was born in Maine, but had come to
Boston, where he was employed when the war broke out. He was
the man whose letters from home had written across the entire top of
the envelope in a bold, round hand, "With God's blessing." It
was the custom of the chaplain, who acted as postmaster during his
stay with the regiment, to stand on a box, or stool, in front of his tent,
and call off the names on the letters. Whenever he came across one
directed to our friend he would hold it up above his head, and in a
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 81
1862. voice of deep feeling, would say, " With God's blessing ! "
and the owner would at once step up and take it, so that
very soon he became known in the regiment as " God's blessing."
Order received to march to Warrenton.
Saturday, In an order sent to General Shields, General Mc-
june 7. Dowell complains of the size of wagon trains, directing
that nothing be taken in them but ammunition, subsist-
ence, forage and cooking utensils, and states that " Jackson marches
thirty miles a day, and that we can never catch an enemy with a train
filled with trumpery."
The order which we received yesterday to march on
Sunday, Warrenton was to-day countermanded, and we were
June 8. jjjyg prevented from breaking the Sabbath.
General Ord was relieved, and the division placed
under the command of General Ricketts.
An order from the adjutant-general was received by General
McDowell to-day, from which the following is an extract :
The Secretary of War directs, that having first provided adequately for the
defence of Washington and for holding the position at Fredericksburg, you
operate with the residue of your force, as speedily as possible, in the direction of
Richmond, to cooperate with Major-General McClellan, in accordance with the
instructions heretofore given you.
The following communication to General McClellan was sent by
General McDowell on this date, and has a peculiar interest to us :
For the third time I am ordered to join you, and this time I hope to get
through.
In view of the remarks made with reference to my leaving you and my not
joining you before, by your friends, and of something I have heard as coming
from you on that subject, I wish to say that I go with the greatest satisfaction, and
hope to arrive with my main body in time to be of service.
Monday, An order was received delaying our movement from
June 9. Front Royal, which in no way displeased us.
Paid off. Though it rained hard all day and the camp
Tuesday, was very muddy, the world seemed bright and pleasant
June 10. ^g yg^ g^g j^ appare^ly did to the thrifty wives of Front
Royal, who, regardless of the rain, brought their pies to
camp to exchange for the filthy lucre of the "miserable Yankees."
82 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. Company I was yesterday sent to town as provost-
Thursday, guard.
June 12. r^^^ following letter was sent to-day by General
McClellan to the Secretary of War :
In your telegrams respecting reinforcements you inform me that General
McDowell, with the residue of his command, will proceed overland to join me
before Richmond. I beg leave to suggest that the destruction of the railroad
bridges by flood and fire cannot probably be remedied under four weeks; that an
attempt to employ wagon transportation must involve great delay, and may be
found very difficult of accomplishment. An extension of my right wing to meet
him may involve serious hazard to my flank and my line of communications, and
may not suffice to rescue from any peril in which a strong movement of the
enemy may involve him. I would advise that his forces be sent by water.
Even a portion thus sent would, by reason of greater expedition and security and
less complications of my movements, probably be more serviceable in the opera-
tions before Richmond. The roads throughout the region between Ihe Rappa-
hannock and the James cannot be relied upon and may become execrable even
should they be in their best condition. The junction of his force with the exten-
sion of my right flank cannot be made without derangement of my plans, and if
my recent experience in moving troops be indicative of the difficulties incident to
McDowell's march, the exigencies of my present position will not admit of the
delay.
Six hundred men on duty. Forced marches, exposure,
Friday, short rations, and malaria were the influences that re-
june 13. (Juced our number.
Thermometer 95°. We were told by the colonel to-day
that our transfer to General Banks' corps would soon take
Saturday, place. This information had a very pleasing effect on
June 14. tijg tjjjyg ;yg ^gjg j^jgg jQj^j ^^^ Maj.-Gen. Oid,
commander of our division, was to be transferred to
Corinth, Miss. We had become very fond of General Ord, and
were sorry he wag to leave us.
During the early part of our service, quite a number of the boys
carried a volume of " Hardie's Tactics," which they studied in spare
hours. There was no subject so thoroughly discussed as our evolu-
tions at drill. This was, in a great measure, due to the colonel, who
daily surprised us by some new movement; hence a volume of
the Tactics was indispensable in settling disputes. Another book
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 83
1862. frequently borrowed from one of the officers was the
"Army Regulations." It was often read aloud, and
humorous interpretations applied to some of its sections. For in-
stance : Section 694 reads, " Soldiers are not to stop for water ;
the canteen should be filled before starting." Many of the boys in-
sisted that if these sections were interpreted literally, the inference
would be that you might stop for anything but water. Others said
it was plain enough that you might stop for whiskey, though experi-
ence showed that the man who depended on alcohol for his energy,
was generally left by the roadside, completely knocked to pieces.
No one can forget his struggles in attempting to procure water
from a well surrounded by a hundred thirsty soldiers. Tramping
along a hot, dusty road, the water in our canteens would soon become
lukewarm, supplying no refreshment, nor even quenching the thirst.
At last, you spy a well, but, alas ! others have spied it, as you see
by the number congregated about it. You are not easily discouraged
by numbers, and so you add one to the struggling crowd, pushing
and edging your way in until you get a sight of the well, and the
bucket of clear, cool water. With dipper in hand you make a
thrust, only to be shoved aside by others with more strength or
agility. As each succeeds and retires, his place is immediately filled
by another, equally thirsty. If you have patience you may succeed,
but it often happens that you are obliged to give up the contest,
and hurrying on to catch the regiment, which has already passed out
of sight, you cannot help thinking what an ill-mannered cub a soldier
is, when tired and thirsty, striving for water. The weaker men soon
learned the uselessness of struggling against odds so great. A soldier
soon learns that to observe the golden rule is to find himself both
hungry and thirsty. There were men in the army, however, whose
lives moved without friction. They let others do the crowding and
pushing, and when calmness was restored, begged what had been
fought for. The same practice held good with respect to every
other article, whether of rations or comfort. With honeyed words
they beguiled from others the things they were too lazy to carry
themselves. In the case of water, it was particularly aggravating, be-
cause the carrying of it meant an additional weight, as well as the
bother of procuring it.
84 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
J 862, General McDowell sent the following to President
Sunday, Lincoln :
June 15.
So much has been said about my not going to aid McQellan and of his need
ot reenforcements that I beg the President will now allow me to take every man
that can be spared. I make this request in view of what I have just learned from
Front Royal of an intention to have my second division broken up and HartsuiTs
brigade transferred to General Banks' department.
Fremont's and General Banks' commands are now superabundantly strong
for all purposes, in the valley.
In a communication to the Secretary of War, he further says that
he learns
There is a plan on foot for having HartsufTs brigade transferred to Banks',
who is on his way to Washington. I regret to have to trouble you in this matteri
and beg that I may not be deprived of Hartsuff.
He also wrote to the same purpose to Secretary Stanton.
The reply which he received from the Secretary of War was as
follows :
You need be under no apprehension about your force being broken up.
Banks wants HartsufTs brigade, but the President refuses to let it be taken from
your command. Banks comes here by my invitation, in order that the President
may see him and urge prompt comphance with his arrangement.
We might have been saved a good deal of headache about our
transfer to Banks if General McDowell had invited us into his tent,
and while extending the hospitolities of his sideboard, quietly
informed us that his love was too overpowering to admit of the
change ; but this kind of forgetfulness was common among corps
commanders.
General Shields' division returned to-day from Cross
' Keys as ragged and dirty as ourselves, but the fighting
June 16. ., , , , , , . as
tney had seen made them heroes m our eyes.
At 1 1.30 A.M. we took cars for Manassas, fifty miles.
Tuesday, Left the cars about 6 P.M. and marched two miles and
June 17. went into camp about half-way between the junction and
the Bull Run battlefield of July, '61, and on the road to
Blackburn's ford.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 85
1862. The following information was sent from Manassas by
General McDowell to General Banks on this date :
I beg to acquaint you that General HartsufTs brigade has moved here to-day;
that General Rlcketts will follow to-morrow, and that General Shields' division
is now in Front Royal, where I will thank you to support him, in case it should
be necessary, until he can be withdrawn.
In camp at Manassas Junction, where we remained
Wednesday, until July 4. In our childhood we were taught that
June 18. « God is everywhere," but after seeing this place we
concluded that there were exceptions to this statement.
Some of us made ourselves quite comfortable by building up sides
with boards and pitching tents on top, so as to make it high enough
to walk in without stooping. By putting two tents together, it
looked like a hut with a canvas roof. We built narrow seats against
the sides, about eighteen inches from the ground, extending the
whole length of both tents, serving the double purpose of a seat
by -day and bed by night. As boards were scarce, this idea was not
extensively carried out. Those who omitted to build these huts,
suffered from the first rain-storm. Manassas being situated as though
at the bottom of a bowl, every time it rained all the water collected
from the surrounding hills, and as it did not soak away very readily,
the result was an inundated camp.
Four to five hours daily were spent in drilling. Rations were in
abundance and sutlers numerous, so on the score of food we had
little reason for complaining.
On this date the following order was issued by the
^ ■ President :
Ordered (i). The forces under Major-Generals Fremont, Banks, and Mc-
Dowell, including the troops now under Brigadier-General Sturgis at Washington,
shall be consolidated and form an army, to be called the Army of Virginia.
2. The command of the Army of Virginia is specially assigned to Major-
General John Pope, as commanding-general. The troops of the Mountain
Department, heretofore under command of General Fremont, shall constitute the
First Army Corps, under the command of General Fremont; the troops of the
Shenandoah Department, now "under General Banks, shall constitute the Second
Army Corps, and be commanded by him; the troops under the command of
86 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
i86z. General McDowell, except those within the fortifications and city
of Washington, shall form the Third Army Corps, and be under
his command.
3. The Army of Virginia shall operate in such manner as, while protecting
Western Virginia and the national capital from danger or insult, it shall in the
speediest manner attack and overcome the rebel forces under Jackson and Ewell^
threaten the enemy in the direction of Charlottesville, and render the most
effective aid to relieve General McClellan and capture Richmond.
4. When the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Virginia shall be in
position to communicate and directly cooperate at or before Richmond, the chief
command, while so operating together, shall be governed, as in like cases, by the
" Rules and Articles of War."
A good bit of work was cut out for us by this order, and how well
we performed the task will be seen farther on.
As Fourth of July approached, thoughts of having a celebration
found utterance. Some of the boys, appreciating that our near-
ness to Washington, with daily communication by rail, made it
possible for friends at home to come out, wrote to them, and several
took advantage thereof by suddenly making appearance in camp.
It afforded us a great deal of pleasure to entertain them, and we did
our best to make them comfortable while they stayed ; but before their
departure, they were the most miserable creatures in existence. To
them the fare was poor and the beds hard. There were also visitors
from the State authorities, who came out to look after the condition
of Massachusetts troops, but they were better taken care of. The
officers were very courteous in their offers of hospitality to all the
visitors, but those of the rank and file said they preferred roughing
it with the boys — and they found it was rough. Boxes were re-
ceived from home, in many instances containing the ingredients for a
Fourth-of-July punch, and we all looked forward to a glorious time.
We were early at work opening boxes — those which
Friday, ^^^ "o* abeady been opened — and preparing for a
July 4. grand celebration, when an order was received to march
at 8 o'clock. A howl went up at this news, and groans
for McDowell were heard everywhere. To our minds it looked like
a piece of spite. There was no way out of it, so we took all the
boxes on the parade ground, piled them up in a pyramid, with the
empty bottles on top, and then pelted them with rocks until the last
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 87
1862. one was smashed. Soon after we bade " good-by " to
our visitors and proceeded on our way in a most un-
pleasant mood. As we marched along the road we noticed three
figures hanging in the air, effigies of Stanton, McDowell, and Jeff
Davis, labelled respectively, so no mistake should be made as to
whom they were intended to represent. We expressed our appro-
bation as we passed by.
After marching eleven miles, we camped for the night about a
mile beyond Gainesville, on the road to Warrenton. We found cher-
ries in great abundance, and were privileged by General Hartsuff to
gather all we wanted. The day was hot and sultry and reminded us
of our march of a year ago when the battalion companies escorted
the city government of Boston on its annual parade. We found no
such hospitality as greeted us on that occasion.
Our march to-day was in consequence of the following order from
General Pope to General McDowell, July 3, '62 :
General : I think you had best push Ricketts' division as far as Warrenton,
and direct it to take post there. . . . Will you please have these arrange-
ments made without delay? I desire also to hear from the division at Warren-
ton at least once a day.
It will be seen by this that McDowell was not responsible for our
marching to-day, though we gave him credit for it, as we did every-
thing else that was disagreeable.
During the afternoon the question arose as to where we were to
halt for the night, it depending on a supply of water. In discuss-
ing the subject with the regimental commanders, General Hartsuff
suggested that Colonel Leonard turn the Thirteenth into the nearest
field, and he felt sure the men would find water if there was any
about. There was reason for this suggestion, inasmuch as it was the
habit of a good many of the boys, when the final halt for the day
was made, to start with towels in hand for the nearest brook for a
bath, without suggestion as to where water could be found.
There were boys in each company who had an unerring instinct as
to the location of water. We had one man in particular, whom we
called " Simplot," to whom Nature had unfolded many of her secrets.
He knew the name of every bird, of every tree and flower, and
88 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
i86a. seemed to know equally well where to find water, for
whenever there was any doubt, he would give the direction
in which to seek it, as if he knew every foot of the country ; but his
information about whiskey was not as correct. Once acquire the
habit of cleanliness, and you are ever after the slave of soap and
water. It is as difficult to overcome as drinking or the use of opium.
In Colonel Fox's " Statistical Book of the War " occurs the fol-
lowing paragraph :
The Thirteenth Massachusetts has a meritorious record in its small number of
deaths from disease, its percentage of deaths from that cause being the smallest
of any three-years regiment in the entire army. There were regiments with a
smaller number of deaths from disease, but they were two-years regiments, or
carried a less number of names on their rolls. The extraordinary exemption from
disease in the Thirteenth Infantry would indicate that the regiment was composed
of superior material.
Whatever may have been the cause by which we excelled all others
in healthfulness, we hesitate to admit that it was due to habits of
cleanliness, inasmuch as later on, when the exigencies of the service
prevented a liberal use of water, most of us continued to remain
free from sickness of any kind. In spite of this encomium we did
have, here and there, a man so insensible to personal cleanU-
ness, so fond of the tickling sensations of that little parasite
called the " grayback," as to neglect the ordinary proprieties
of life which are dependent on the use of water. In the first
year of our service there was no excuse for any man not keep-
ing reasonably clean, and any dereliction in this respect was
sure to excite complaint from one's associates. Uncleanliness was
one of the things the regiment would not patiently endure. There
were instances, though very few, where the offender was taken to a
brook, stripped of his clothing, and his body holystoned until he
looked like a boiled lobster. One such case we have in mind, of a
man whose uselessness as a soldier suggested a likeness to that
worthless old arm known as the " smooth-bore musket," which was
carried by a few regiments in the first months of the war, and so
they called him " Smooth-bore." Water and lead were two things
his melancholy nature could not stand, and so he relieved the regi-
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 89
1 863. ment of his presence by deserting. It was a happy-
thought on his part, and put us under obligations we can
never repay. To our mind, nothing he did, while in service, so
became him like the leaving it. Exit " Smooth-bore."
Started at 7.30 A.M. for Warrenton, eight miles.
Saturday, As the weather was very hot we were allowed to take it
July 5. pretty easy. The cherries were in great abundance
along the road, and as they were not included in the list
of articles to be protected for the use of Stonewall Jackson, we were
allowed to help ourselves. Just before our arrival in camp, news
was received that McClellan had taken Richmond, whereupon we
all cheered ourselves hoarse. Camp gossip set the day for our
departure for home during the following week. A good many of the
boys expressed sorrow that they were to go home without seeing any
fighting that amounted to anything.
We went into camp in a delightful spot, a mile or so from the
town of Warrenton. The whole country about was beautiful, and
the land possessed of great fertility. Near our camp was a clear
sparkling brook of pure water, besides a spring highly impregnated
with sulphur. A short distance away were blackberry fields, one of
which was many acres in extent, filled with berries of the most lus-
cious kind, reminding us of the words in Izaak Walton as applied to
the strawberry : " Doubtless God might have made a better berry, but
doubtless He never did." If, perchance, this record of ours is read
by other persons than ourselves, who have not seen the like, they may
think we exaggerate j that the contrast with our frugal fare added a
fictitious sweetness to the berries we found about Warrenton. And
such quantities ! For nearly two weeks the whole division luxuriated
in those fields. This is the only camp of the regiment where the
doctor was able to report : " No sick in the hospital."
During our stay at this place we received a visit from General
Banks, and in a speech he made encouraged us to think we were to
be transferred to his command, though the question of our return to
him had been settled so^e days before. It seemed to stir up our
enthusiasm, however, and we cheered him lustily. As this was on
the 1 6 th of July, the anniversary of our muster- in, we felt like cele-
90 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. brating, though little opportunity was afforded the rank
and file to be fooling with anniversaries.
We remained in this camp, in this land flowing with milk and
honey, until the Z2d of the month. While we were at Warrenton
the following order was issued to the Army of Virginia :
Washington, D.C, July 14, 1862.
To the Officers and Soldiers of the Army of Virginia :
By special assignment of the President of the United States, I have assumed
command of this army. I have spent two weeks in learning your whereabouts,
your condition, and your wants, in preparing you for active operations, and in
placing you in positions where you can act promptly and to the purpose. These
labors are nearly completed, and I am about to join you in the field.
Let us understand each other. 1 have come to you from the West, where we
have always seen the backs of our enemies; from an army whose business it has
been to seek the adversary, and to beat him when he was found; whose policy
has been attack, and not defence. In but one instance has the enemy been able
to place our Western armies in defensive attitudes. I presume I have been called
here to pursue the same system, and to lead you against the enemy. It is my pur-
pose to do so, and that speedily. I am sure you long for an opportunity to win
the distinction you are capable of achieving. That opportunity I shall endeavor
to give you. Meantime I desire you to dismiss from your minds certain phrases
which I am sorry to find so much in vogue amongst you. I hear constantly of
" taking strong positions and holding them," of "lines of retreat," and of "bases
of supplies." Let us discard such ideas. The strongest position a soldier should
desire to occupy is one from which he can most easily advance against the
enemy. Let us study the probable lines of retreat of our opponents, and leave
our own to take care of themselves. Let us look before us, and not behind. Suc-
cess and glory are in advance, disaster and shame lurk in the rear. Let us act on
this understanding, and it is safe to predict that your banners shall be inscribed
with many a glorious deed, and that your names will be dear to your countrymen
forever.
(Signed) JNO. POPE,
Major-General Commanding.
Some of the boys facetiously called it the " Pope's Bull."
" Seest there a man wise in his own conceit ? There is more hope
of a fool than of him," says the Holy Bible. Up to this date the
army was well disposed toward General Pope, but this bombastic
and offensive circular unfortunately lessened its respect for him.
It will be noticed, on reading the circular, that " my headquarters
are in the satidle," does not appear. It is diflScult, now, to recall
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 91
i862. just how we became possessed with the idea that General
Pope wrote it. Probably some newspaper desiring to
ridicule his famous proclamation, added the offensive paragraph on
publishing it, and the army not being very friendly toward him, re-
peated it so often as a joke on Pope, very soon believed it to be
true. It became a by-word throughout the army, and a good deal
of fun we had out of it. In justice to General Pope, we are glad to
give his statement, which he made in his account of the second
battle of Bull Run, as published in the " Century " magazine of Jan-
uary, 1886 :
There are other matters which, although not important, seem not out of place
in this paper. A good deal of cheap wit has been expended upon a fanciful story
that I publis^led an order, or wrote a letter, or made a remark, that my" head-
quarters would be in the saddle." It is an expression harmless and innocent
enough, but it is even stated that it furnished General Lee with a basis for the only
joke of his life. It is painful, therefore, to a well-constituted mind, to be obliged
to take away the foundation of that solitary joke; but I think it due to array
tradition, and to the comfort of those who have so often repeated this ancient
joke in the days long before the Civil War, that these later wits should not be al-
lowed with impunity to poach on this well-tilled manor. This venerable joke I
first heard when a cadet at West Point, and it was then told of that gallant
soldier and gentleman. Gen. W. J. Worth. I presume it could be easily traced to
the Crusades, and beyond; and while it may not be as old as the everlasting hills,
it is certainly old enough to have been excused from active duty long years ago.
Certainly I never used this expression, or "wrote, or dictated it, nor does any such
expression occur in any order of mine; and as it has, perhaps, served its time and
effeete^lts purpose, it ought to be retired. Let us hope that it may be permitted
to sleep in peace, and no longer rack the brain o£ those whose intellectual ma-
chinery can ill bear the strain, or be perpetuated among their natural successors.
Military critics and ofiicers high in command have asserted that
General Pope was an officer of exceptional abilities. If this is true,
and we are not inclined to dispute it, he did himself a grievous wrong
when he published this order.
Marched to Waterloo, ten miles. Though the dis-
Tuesday, tance was not great it was a hard march, and as it began
July 22. (.Q ja,in before we reached our camping-ground, the tem-
per of the regiment was not improved. We had been
feasting on the fat of the land and drinking spring-water, and other-
92 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. wise enjoying ourselves, so that we were in no humor to
get pleasure out <}i a hot, dusty road.
In passing through towns and villages, and even on the high-roads,
we naturally attracted a good deal of attention. We frequently
noticed among the crowds so gathered, the scowling faces of women,
who, upon learning we were from Massachusetts, saluted us as " Nig-
ger-lovers," and other opprobrious epithets, while it occasionally hap-
pened that by grimaces only could they express the intensity of
their feelings. We were in no way disturbed by these manifestations
of unfriendliness on the part of' the fair sex, but the men in reddish-
brown suits, watching our movements with eager eyes, passing them-
selves off as innocent farmers, who were they? They excited our
suspicion by their restless, sneaking manners, their evident desire not
to be observed. Yes, we soon learned that these innocent men com-
bined the peaceful avocation of farming with the nocturnal pastime
of throat-cutting, under the leadership of that champion throat-
cutter, John S. Mosby. It often happened, later on, that soldiers
returning to camp after dark, were waylaid and murdered, and their
bodies horribly mutilated. Of course it made little difference to the
man after he was dead what disposition was made of his body, but
it was none the less disagreeable to the living to contemplate what
might be the fate of a man who fell into the hands of such a band,
particularly when he reflected toat life might not be wholly extinct
when the mutilation took place. It was the presence of these men
in our midst that enabled Mosby to carry on his nefarious work. We
can respect the foe who stood up in a manly way and fought for what
he honestly believed was right, but we do not believe in gilding with
heroism the deeds of Mosby and his guerillas, which kind of warfare
is abhorred by all civilized nations.
The remarks we heard from the bystanders as we marched along
often became by-words in the regiment. We were no exception to
the generality of mankind, of liking to see a pretty face, even if it did
belong to a woman of " secesh " sentiments. When the boys at the
head of the column discovered a pretty girl, if she was on the right
side of the road, "guide right" would be passed along the line ; and
"guide left," if on the left side of the road. By this ingenious device
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 93
1862. we were enabled to direct our eyes where we would
receive the largest return for our admiration.
The ignorance displayed in answering our inquiries respecting dis-
tances was unfathomable. An answer might be " five miles," and
after an hour's marching, the same inquiry would be repeated, when
the answer would be "ten miles." We often would be told
that " 'Taint a great ways when you get 'most there." This might,
at first, seem intended for a joke, but its frequency and the stolidity
with which it was given removed any such doubt. After awhile the
boys would reverse the question by asking " How far is it to such a
place when you get 'most there?" and it was amusing to see how
completely puzzled they were. After considerable experience of this
kind we concluded that while Virginia was called " The mother of
Presidents," she was not the mother of a man who could accurately
tell you the distance from one town to another.
Various were the devices adopted by the boys to relieve the
monotony of weary marches. On these occasions, as conversation
was allowed, stories were told, gossip repeated,, discussions carried
on, and criticisms made on the acts of public men, as well as on the
merits of our commanders. An occasional silence would be broken
by the starting of a familiar song, and very soon the whole regiment
would join in the singing. Sometimes it would be a whistling chorus,
when all would be whistling. Toward the end of a day, however, so
tired were we all, that it was difficult to muster courage for these
diversions, then our only reliance for music would be the band.
When a temporary halt was granted, it was curious to see how
quickly the boys would dump themselves over on their backs at the
side of the road as soon as the word was given, looking like so
many dead men. There was one thing we were thankful to the
colonel for, and that was his freedom from nonsense on such occa-
sions. No " right- facing," no " right-dressing," no " stacking arms,"
to waste valuable minutes, but "get all the rest you can, boys," and
when the order was given to " forward," each man took his place in
line without confusion or delay.
Every opportunity for a joke or a "grind" on a comrade was
seized to enliven our toil. At this particular time it happened that
94 THREE TEAMS IN THE ARMY.
1862. one of the boys, a private in one of the companies, — and
we beg his pardon for mentioning the circumstance, —
was appointed to a lieutenancy in the Regular army. " The mills of
the gods grind slowly," it is said, but he must have thought them a
lightning express in comparison to the wheels of our War Depart-
ment, as between the time when he read in the paper his confirma-
tion by the Senate and the time when he received an order to report
at Washington, nearly three months elapsed. In the meantime,
being a good soldier, he did duty with the rest of us as good-
naturedly as a man can who is in hourly expectation of saying " good-
by." When the inquiry was made, " What regiment is that?" the
answer would be returned, " Thirteenth, Mass. ; none but regular
army officers in the ranks ! " The opportunity of saying this afforded
us more enjoyment than it did the bystanders, who had no appre-
ciation of what it meant.
It would often occur, when we were tired and dusty from a long
day's march, " Old Festive " would ride by, when suddenly you would
hear sung :
" Saw my leg off.
Saw my leg off.
Saw my leg off —
SHORT!!!"
There was another man in the regiment who contributed a large
share of fun for the amusement of others, and that was the " Medi-
cine man " — the man who honored the doctor's sight-drafts for
salts, castor-oil, etc., delicacies intended for the sick, but greatly in
demand by those who wished to rid themselves of unpleasant duties.
He was the iasso pro/undo of the glee club, and could gaze with-
out a tremor at the misery of a man struggling with castor-oil, while
at the same time encouraging him to show his gratitude at the gener-
osity of the Government by drinking the last drop. " Down with it,
my boy, the more you take the less I carry."
Moved camp to a better spot, on Carter's Run.
Friday, An incident happened while we were at this camp that
July 25. shows how much patience was required to prevent one's
language from acquiring a gilding of profanity. In the
reduction of baggage, company kettles and pots had to go, so that
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 95
1862. each man was forced to do his own cooking on his own
fire, and with his tin dipper. Now, this meant a good
deal where wood was scarce, or where we had to go a distance for it.
Men were therefore jealous of its use by those who were known as
being too lazy to procure wood. It frequently happened that when
your fire was well going, some fellow would put his dipper down
beside yours and with flattering words of greeting ward oif your
anger, gradually pushing the dipper farther into or on the fire, until
he had gained entire possession of it. This was aggravating, but not
so much so as an instance where a single fire had been extended by
the use of rails until it contained not less than thirty cups filled with
water, the owners crowding and pushing, each with a handful of coffee
watching for the water to boil, when he was to put in his coffee. In
walking round looking for a vacant spot where he might slide in his
dipper, one of the boys hit his toe against one of the rails, and over
went all the dippers into the fire. Did the owners sit down and
laugh at the accident? No ; they did not. Even those whose coffee
had been placed in the dippers showed no joy. Once more the god-
dess whose name suggests eternal punishment was invoked upon the
offender. " For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion : How are
we spoiled?"
Orders were read notifying us of the death of
Thursday, ex-President Van Buren. Some of us were shocked
July 31. because one of the boys, an Englishman by birth, asked,
« Who in h— 1 is Van Buren ? "
The brigade was ordered out in full marching order to be inspected
by General Pope.
An order was received that men quit straggling off the picket line.
Who had been giving away the secrets of the picket line ?
Yesterday an order was received that " at company drills the men
will be instructed in calculating distances within five hundred yards."
This looked hke business.
At 5.30 A.M. we left our pleasant and healthy camp at
Monday, Waterloo and marched towards Culpeper, eleven miles.
August 4. 'Yhe roads were dusty and the temperature of the air, as
well as our language, was very high. We had been very
96 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
i862. comfortably situated, with an abundance of cherries, good
water, and enough to eat. Nothing better could be got
by moving, so we preferred to stay. The Government showed an
uneasiness about us that was very exasperating. Whenever we were
particularly pleased with our situation, it took that moment to move
us to some less agreeable spot. -We came out to fight, — not to march.
Therefore it was the duty of the Government, if it had any enemies,
to bring them along, that we might do the fighting, and go home.
Marched at 5 A.M. Having paced off twelve miles
Tuesday, we went into camp within sight of Culpeper Court
Augusts. House, and in close proximity to a large number of
troops.
In the afternoon sudden orders were received to move,
Friday, and after marching about four miles beyond Culpeper,
ugust . ^g halted for the night near Pony Mountain. An
order was received that no horses be allowed, except to
those men mounted by law. Perhaps the Government thought we
were keeping private saddle-horses.
At daylight the army marched a few miles and halted,
Saturday, while General Banks' corps continued on and became
August 9. engaged in the battle known as Cedar Mountain. During
the day we several times changed our position, short dis-
tances, in hourly expectation of taking part in the battle which we
knew, by the sound, was going on. Late in the afternoon we were
ordered forward to take our place in line of battle, first leaving our
knapsacks.
In all ages and in all climes every army has had its percentage of
men who ran away, hoping they might escape fighting, and our army
was no exception in this respect. On our way to the front we saw
men who, though wounded and capable of taking care of them-
selves, were being assisted to the rear by two, three, and occasion-
ally as many as four men, who shouted as we passed along, " Go in
boys !• Give 'em h— 1 ! " In their haste to believe " that discre-
tion is the better part of valor," they forgot that if this remark
has any force at all, it could be only in those cases where valor ex-
isted. It was a common saying in the army that such men wrote
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 97
xaea. their letters home in red ink to impress their friends
with the belief that they were " bloody heroes."
By the time we reached the front it was nearly dark and the
fighting had ceased. While we were halted, waiting for orders for
the night, General Carroll's brigade came marching along headed by
a fife and drum corps playing " Dixie " loud enough to wake the
dead. They had scarcely reached our line when the enemy's
artillery, from an elevated position, filled the air with exploding
shells, whereupon they turned and fled to the rear, helter-skelter,
with an alacrity that was laughable considering the boldness of their
advance, while the enemy, anticipating what would happen upon a
sudden attack like this, attempted to follow up the advantage. It
was a critical moment j a panic might ensue unless prompt and
vigorous measures were taken to prevent it. . General Hartsuff
disposed his brigade at once. His prompt action and his experience
as an artillerist, in moving his brigade from point to point out of
range of the enemy's guns, saved it from the loss which might easily
have occurred under an officer with less practical appreciation of the
situation. Shortly afterward we were led along the base of the hill
to the right, hugging the ground while the enemy's artillery fired
over our heads into the woods at our rear until after midnight, dur-
ing which time our artillery returned the fire with equal vigor. It
was a grand sight to watch the burning fuses of the shells as they
hissed through the air, while we laid flat on the ground, safely
ensconced, until morning. At daylight a flag of truce was received
from Jackson asking for a cessation of hostilities' to enable him to
bury his dead, which was granted. Instead of attending to this
sacred duty, as set forth in his request, he obeyed the injunction
contained in the Holy Scriptures, which says, " Let the dead bury
their dead." In other words, he took advantage of the armistice,
and with his army slipped quietly away.
When daylight appeared, we found ourselves near a cornfield, and
taking advantage of the occasion, we gathered the ripening ears and
proceeded, without let or hinderance, to roast them, and considering
the shortness of rations this was a big streak of luck.
We were very fortunate on this occasion, as the Thirteenth was
98 THBEE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
i86z. the only regiment in the brigade that suffered no loss.
Persons unfamiliar with such matters commonly estimate
the value of a regiment's service by its number of killed and wounded.
This is not a safe guide, as it frequently happens that the com-
manding officer of a regiment can save his men by coolness
and good judgment. The regiment that can do the most execution
with the smallest loss, is certainly the one that serves the country
best. An instance happened with us at this time which, though
seemingly insignificant, illustrates this idea very well. When we re-
ceived orders to change position to the right, the brigade had its
bayonets " fixed." The moon happened to be in a cloud when the
movement was begun, and, as it was important that it be made with
all possible secrecy to the enemy, our colonel gave the order to
" trail arms ! " which order had the effect of concealing the bayonets
from view as the moon became unobscured. The position of
the other regiments was discovered when the rays of the moon
flashed on their bayonets, thereby drawing the enemy's fire.
Whether or not this accounts for our good fortune, the thoughtfiil-
ness exhibited by the colonel on this occasion has often been spoken
of in terms of praise. There are plenty of instances during the war
when the rashness of officers has cost the lives of many men.
General Hartsuff 's report of his part in the battle of Cedar Moun-
tain is as follows :
I first took position in close column by division about two hundred and iifly
yards in the rear of the centre of General Tower's line, and when the fire of the
enemy's battery was directed toward my position, I moved my brigade a few
yards beyond the crest of a hill, which sheltered them from the fire, and changed
my direction so as to face the fire. In this position I remained until 3.30 A.M.,
when, by General McDowell's directions, I moved about half a mile to the rear.
Officers and men behaved under the unexpected and close fire with very com-
mendable coolness; ranks were unbroken, and there was no confusion.
The last place to look for a stock company would be among a
regiment of soldiers. After being deprived of camp kettles, mess
pans, etc., each man was obliged to do his own cooking, as already
stated, in his tin dipper, which held about a pint. Whether it was
coffee, beans, pork, or anything depending on the services of a fire to
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 99
1862. make it palatable, it was accomplished by aid of the
dipper only. Therefore any utensil like a frying-pan was
of incalculable service in preparing a meal. There were so few of
these in the regiment, that only men of large means, men who could
raise a dollar thirty days after a paymaster's visit, could afford such
a luxury. In one instance the difficulty was overcome by the for-
mation of a joint-stock company, composed of five stockholders,
each paying the sum of twenty cents toward the purchase of a
fiying-pan, which cost the sum of one dollar. The par value of each
share was therefore twenty cents. It was understood that each
stockholder should take his turn at carrying the frying-pan when
on a march, which responsibility entitled him to its first use in
halting for the night. While in camp, it passed from one to the
other each day in order of turn. It was frequently loaned for a
consideration, thereby affording means for an occasional dividend
among the stockholders. The stock advanced in value until it
reached as high as forty cents per share, so that a stockholder in the
"Joint Stock Frying Pan Company" was looked upon as a man of
consequence. Being treated with kindness and civiUty by his com-
rades, life assumed a roseate hue to the shareholders in this great
company, in spite of their deprivations. It was flattering to hear
one's self mentioned in terms of praise by some impecunious com-
rade who wished to occupy one side of it while you were cooking.
On this particular morning, when we started out, expecting shortly
to be in a fight, the stock went rapidly down, until it could be bought
for almost nothing. As the day progressed, however, there was a
slight rise, though the market was not strong. When the order was
given to leave knapsacks, it necessarily included this utensil, and so
the "Joint Stock Frying Pan Company " was wiped out.
100 THREE TEABS IN THE ABMT.
CHAPTER VI.
1862. Marched back to the place where we left our knapsacks
Sunday, yesterday afternoon, while on the way to the front,
ugus 10. Having recovered our worldly goods and restored our
tempers to as near a normal condition as the exasperat-
ing circumstances would allow, we were formed in a square to listen
to a sermon by the chaplain, whose text was, " What came ye out for
to see ? " That was a conundrum that each must answer for himself,
and some of us very soon.
Marched to the Rapidan River, seven miles, and
Aueu^t ij *^*™P^*^- '^^ spot selected was in an elevated posi-
tion in sight of the river and the fields beyond, where
could be seen the enemy's pickets.
In the afternoon we received sudden orders to march
August' 17 ^°^^ ^® "^^"^ about four miles, the enemy being in force
on the opposite side. Our camp was not far from
Mitchell's station, and the water scarce.
In the afternoon a batch of recruits arrived from Bos-
Monday, ton, and finother fine lot of boys they were. Their knap-
August 18. sacks were loaded, as we knew from experience, with
many things they could do without, and beside ours they
looked like " Saratogas." They were at once drawn up in line and
assigned to companies, after which the chaplain gave them some
friendly advice as to what we " old fellows" were; cautioning them
to beware of our seductive advice about discarding this or that, and
particularly cautioning them about swapping their bright, new dippers
for our old, battered ones. His advice was, no doubt, well-inten-
tioned, but his accusations were so general that the recruits hardly
knew whom to trust, and it was, therefore, a rather delicate matter
for us to give advice, though they sadly needed it. However, we
O fkbdek/ck
MAP N9 6
THIBTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 101
1862. did our best to make them comfortable, though the best
must have seemed very little to them, and let experience
teach them the rest. As there were very few surplus guns, most of
these recruits had to do without them until after the 30th of August.
At II P.M. the long roll was sounded and, nearly dead with
sleep, we turned out to answer to our names, and then to march.
We marched about an hour toward Culpeper, when we were
halted to allow the wagon train to pass.
From midnight until 9 o'clock in the morning we
Tuesday, Stood in the road, with our noses pointed toward Cul-
August ig. peper, patiently waiting for an order to march, in a
frame of mind that is well described by Mr. Kipling in
the following lines :
"Wot makes the soldier's 'eart to penk, wot makes 'im to perspire?
It isn't standin' up to charge or lying down to fire;
But it's everlastin' waitin' on a everlastin' road
For the commissariat camel an' 'is commissariat load."
It was a long weary march of twenty miles and a very hot day.
When twelve miles had been counted off we were led into a field, as
we supposed, to camp for the night. Having faced into line, General
Hartsuff addressed us in complimentary terms on the manner in
which this distance had been made, trusting the remaining eight
miles to the Rappahannock River, which we must reach before mak-
ing a halt for the night, would be done in the same good order.
Our hopes were therefore completely dashed. The fact that the
enemy were closely following us, as we were informed, lent a vigor
to our step in the remaining eight miles, though it was not until after
dark (8.30 P.M.) that we crossed the river at Rappahannock station
and bivouacked. If a man has the luck to escape picket duty after
such a day's work he has reason to thank his stars. Our retreat
afforded the women of Culpeper a good deal of pleasure. It is well
to know that some one got pleasure out of it, even if we did not.
Early in the morning the " rebs " were seen on the
Wednesday, opposite side of the river, and we were hastily thrown
August 20. across, companies D and K acting as skirmishers. Very
soon the Eleventh Pennsylvania followed and relieved us,
102 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. when we took position on a little knoll near the bridge,
and proceeded at once to throw up earthworks for our
protection. In order to do this with haste we were obliged to resort
to our tin plates, dippers, or anything else we could find that
would do the work. Matthews' battery (Co. F, First Pennsylvania
Artillery) was with us. During our stay at Williamsport last winter,
this battery was encamped within our lines, by reason of which we
became well acquainted with the men and officers. They had con-
tinued with us in the same brigade right along since. They were a
first-rate set of fellows, and we appreciated very highly the acquaint-
ance thus formed, and which continued in perfect harmony.
We continued our work in the trenches, the artillery
Thursday, firing over our heads, while the infantry, like "Brer
August 21. Fox," laid low. General McDowell visited us daily. A
conspicuous article of his apparel was the pith hat which
he wore to protect his head from the rays of the sun. This hat^
which looked like an inverted wash-bowl, was a matter that excited
much unreasonable comment among the men of his corps.
The heavy rain of yesterday had such an effect on the
Saturday, river that at half-past four this morning. General Mc-
August 23. Dowell, fearing the bridge would be carried away, or-
dered us across the river, which order we carried out
with rather unseemly haste. Owing to the excited manner of the
staff-officer (Miller), who was to see the order carried out, and who
damned us for the time wasted in collecting our duds, which he
seemed to think we ought to leave behind, a good deal of unneces-
sary confusion arose, during which he was told to go where overcoats
were not needed. As soon as we reached the opposite bank there be-
gan a heavy firing by artillery — more artillery- firing than we had seen
before. Inasmuch as we lay ensconced behind the guns this duel was
very impressive, particularly as we were in imminent danger of being
hit. Once the enemy charged across the plain, but were repulsed.
In the afternoon we marched toward Warrenton.
In his report of this campaign General McDowell says :
Fearing for the safety of HartsufPs brigade, who were on the opposite bank, I
ordered theni to be withdrawn. It was now impracticable to cross the river and
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 103
1862. make the attack you had planned. Your orders then were to move
the army against the enemy, who had crossed at Sulphur Springs
and gone to Warrenton, whence he had made the attack with his cavalry at
Catlett's, and who, it was thought, would be unable, on account of the state of
the river, either to recross or be reenforced.
The withdrawal of Hartsuff's brigade from the south side encouraged the
enemy to move forward to seize the hills he had abandoned before we could
complete the entire destruction of the railroad bridge, which we did not wish to
leave for the enemy to repair and use to annoy us on our march to Warrenton.
They opened a furious fire upon us, and moving their infantry down in masses,
rushed upon the hill Hartsuff had just left.
Back and forth we marched all day between two
. •;' roads that led to Warrenton, until night, when we moved
August 24. J a >
to a spot about three miles beyond that town, where we
halted and drew rations. The officers 'were without tents, the wagon
train having disappeared. They had our charitable commiseration.
Rested until about 5 P.M., when we marched to the
Monday Waterloo road and went into camp. General Hartsuff
August 25. was ordered to the hospital on account of old wounds,
and the Colonel of the Ninth New York assumed com-
mand of the brigade. We found plenty of green com and apples to
help out our rations.
In a communication to General Halleck, under this date, Gen-
eral Pope says that " McDowell's is the only corps that is at all
reliable that I have." If we had only known of this compUment
at the time, we should have felt like " Big Injun ! "
At 7 A.M. we marched back to the spot we left last
Tuesday, night and laid there about an hour, and then marched
August 26. back to the Waterloo road and went into camp.
At night the rebel general, Stuart, made a raid on
Pope's headquarters. The repugnance which the army felt toward
General Pope gave rise to expressions of glee at his probable dis-
comfiture when it heard of this raid.
In the afternoon we started on what turned out to be
Wednesday, a slow, tiresome march of only eight miles, through War-
August 27. renton, out on the Gainesville road, going into camp at
2.30 A.M. This dallying along, instead of marching
104 TBREE TEARS IJT THE ARMY.
1862. straight on, was one of the most exasperating things with
which we had to contend. Having no knowledge of
what was going on about us, it was as uninteresting as the work of
a galley-slave.
Resumed our march toward Manassas, but on reaching
Thursday, Hay Market we were ordered to leave our knapsacks and
August 28. push on to Thoroughfare Gap to prevent Longstreet's
corps from reenforcing Jackson. As we recall the work
of that day we are not able to rid ourselves of the impression that we
might easily have gained possession of that Gap had we started
earlier, or if we had not dallied so long on the road after we did
start. It seems that Longstreet left White Plains, eight miles west of
the Gap, about 10 A.M., and succeeded in reaching it just before
our arrival, so that when we got there the woods on the sides of the
mountain were filled with " Johnnies." Thoroughfare Gap is natu-
rally fortified, and whoever occupied it might easily keep possession
against a much superior force.
The testimony of General Ricketts, on this movement, given at the
McDowell Court of Inquiry is interesting :
I received an order on that day (the 28th) to send a brigade and a batteiy
of artillery to support Colonel Wyndham at Thoroughfare Gap, and to push on to
the same place with the rest of my division. I do not know what hour of the day
the order was received, but should judge some time in the forenoon. I was
at the time with my division on the road from Buckland Mills to Gainesville, and
marched directly across the country by Hay Market. This order was brought
to me by Captain Wadsworth, of General McDowell's staff, and was in writing.
Somewhere between Hay Market and Thoroughfare Gap I saw Capt^n Leski,
of General McDowell's staff, who gave pretty much the same order, — to go there
and support Colonel Wyndham at the Gap. That is all I recollect.
On reaching the entrance of the Gap we filed to the left along the
base of the mountain, which was covered by dense woods already oc-
cupied by the skirmishers of Longstreet's corps. Though we could
not see the enemy, we were made aware of his presence by the
bullets which flew about our heads in too great a profusion for com-
fort. Protecting ourselves as well as we could behind a stone wall,
we prepared to return the fire of our invisible enemy. After a few
moments we were again formed in line, retiring to the open field.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 105
i862. where we were deployed as skirmishers, facing the woods
on the mountain, as before. Here we remained for a
short time loading and firing at will, until an order was given to fall
back to another piece of woods in our rear which afforded some
protection from the enemy's fire. About dark the brigade was with-
drawn and marched with the division toward Manassas bivouacking
shortly after midnight.
In connection with our day's work the experiences of companies
D, H, and'K ought not to be omitted.
Upon our arrival at the Gap Company D was deployed as skir-
mishers and advanced up the mountain. On the way, the boys sud-
denly came across a lot of blueberries. Such an abundance they
had not seen since leaving home. Hungry and thirsty, they forgot
their dangerous position and proceeded at once to gather what they
could. While thus engaged, the Eleventh Pennsylvania, which was
in their rear, unaware that Company D was in their front, began to
fire. Between two fires was a perilous position to be in. The
Eleventh Pennsylvania was immediately notified, and their firing
ceased. Company K was at the same time ordered into the Gap to
take possession of a stone mill, followed by Company H as support.
Longstreet had already entered the Gap with the head of his corps
of 30,000 men, making it a specially dangerous service for these
three companies. While Company D pursued its way, K, the next
company on the right, was detailed to go up the railroad to the stone
mill. H was sent to support K, a few minutes later ; it followed a
small stream to the rear of the mill, entering it at what might be
called the cellar or basement. These companies, in column of fours,
then in twos, and finally in single rank, marched as rapidly as pos-
sible, without running, under a hot fire from the enemy, without
losing a man. Upon their arrival they returned the fire of the
enemy, who, being concealed by the woods, probably escaped any
loss. Just as the boys were getting in their work, a full, fresh-look-
ing regiment of rebels came in sight, marching across from the rail-
road toward the skirmish line of D. As our boys were about to fire
into this regiment an aid appeared for the second time to inform
them that they were firing into their own men, a mistake he made in
106 THREE YEARS IIT THE ARMY.
1862. misapprehension of the situation. This time he gave no
order or hint what the boys were to do, but his previous
instructions having been opposed to defending the mill, our men
were forced to abandon it before being taken prisoners, and returned
to the regiment, as did also Company D.
Our losses at Thoroughfare Gap were two men killed and two
wounded.
General Orders, Headquarters Third Corps,
No. 10. Reynolds' Camp, Aug. 28, 1862.
I. Major-General Sigel will immediately march with his whole corps on Man-
assas Junction, his right resting on the Manassas Railroad.
II. Brigadier-General Reynolds will march on the turnpike immediately in
the rear of General Sigel, and form his division on the left of General Sigel, and
march upon Manassas Junction.
III. Brigadier-General King will follow immediately after General Reynolds,
and form his division on General Reynolds' left, and direct his march upon Man-
assas Junction.
IV. Brigadier-General Ricketts will follow Brigadier-General King and march
to Gainesville; and if, on arriving there, no indication shall appear of the approach
of the enemy from Thoroughfare Gap, he will continue his march along the turn-
pike, form on the left of General King, and march on Manassas Junction. He
will be constantly on the lookout for an attack from the direction of Thoroughfare
Gap, and iii case one is threatened, he will form his division to the left and march
to resist it.
The headquarters of the corps will be at King's division.
By command of Major-General McDowell,
(Signed) ED. SCHRIVER,
Colonel, Chief of Staff-
Headquarters Army of Virginia,
Bristoe Station, Aug. 27, 1862, 9 P.M.
Major-General McDowell :
At daylight to-morrow morning march rapidly on Manassas Junction with your
whole force, resting your right on the Manassas Gap Railroad, throwing your left
well to the east. Jackson, Ewell, and A. P. Hill are between Gainesville and
Manassas Junction. We had a severe fight with them to-day, driving them back
several miles along the railroad. If you will march promptly and rapidly at the
earliest dawn of day upon Manassas Junction, we shall bag the whole crowd. I
have directed Reno to march from Greenwich at the same hour upon Manassas
Junction, and Kearney, who is in his rear, to march on Bristoe at daybreak. Be
expeditious and the day is our own.
JNO. POPE,
Major-General Commanding.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 107
1862. At the McDowell Court of Inquiry, the foregoing was
read, when the following question was asked of Gen-
eral Pope :
Question by the Court. After the order just read to you, had General Mc-
Dowell any discretionary power to send Ricketts' division to Thoroughfare Gap,
to check the approach of Longstreet?
To which General Pope answered as follows :
Answer, At the time that the order in question was written, I was satisfied
that we had completely interposed between the forces under Jackson and the taain
body of the enemy, yet to the westward of the Bull Run Range. The order
directing General McDowell's march would have carried him eastward, and
in the same direction in which the main body of the enemy was marching to
join Jackson. I believed then, and believe now, that we were sufficiently in
advance of Longstreet, who was supposed to lead the main body of the enemy,
that by using our whole force vigorously, we should be able to crush Jackson
completely before Longstreet, by any possibility, could have reached the scene of
action. I sent nothing to General McDowell concerning Thoroughfare Gap,
and regretted afterward that any portion of his forces had been detatched in that
direction. General McDowell had the discretion, however, necessarily incident to
his position, and to his distance from me, to make such a disposition to cover his
rear, as he might consider necessary. From the order of General McDowell,
which he showed me afterward (the order No. 10), I understood that the move-
ment of Ricketts' division was ihade conditionally, and in view of the possibility
of an attack upon his rear, from the direction of Thoroughfare Gap.
Question by the Court. Were you aware that King's division had a fight with
the enemy near the evening of that day, and after the fight fell back to Manassas ?
Answer. It was reported to me about 8 or 9 o'clock at night, on the 28th, that
King's division of McDowell's corps had met the enemy retreating from Centre-
ville, and after a severe fight bad remained masters of the field, still interposing
between Jackson's forces and the main body of the enemy. This report was
brought to me by a staff-officer, I think, of General King's. Upon receiving this
information I stated to several of ray staff-officers who were present that the game
was in our hands, and that I did not see how it was possible for Jackson to escape
without very heavy loss, if at all. Immediately upon receipt of this intelligence
I also directed General Kearney, whose division occupied Centreville, to push for-
ward cautiously at i o'clock that night in the direction of Gainesville, to drive in
the pickets of the enemy, and to keep himself in close contact during the night;
to rest his left on the Warrenton turnpike, and to throw his right to the north,
toward the Little River, and well to the front. I directed him at the first blush of
daylight to attack the enemy with his right advanced, and informed him that
Hooker and Reno would be with him immediately after daylight. To my surprise
108 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. and dissatisfaction I learned toward daylight on the morning of the
29th that King's division had withdrawn in the direction of Man-
assas Junction, leaving open the road to Thoroughfare Gap. This withdrawal of
that division made necessary a great change in the movement and the position
of the troops, and was a most serious and unlooked-for mistake. I was so im-
pressed with the necessity that that division should hold its ground during the
night of the 28th, that I sent several orders to General King (one by his own
staff-officer) during that night to hold his ground at all hazards and to prevent
the retreat of the enemy, and informed him that our whole force from the direction
of Centreville and Manassas Junction would fall upon the enemy at daylight.
Another hot day. At 5 A.M. we marched to Bristoe
Friday, Station, about five miles, rested until 3 P.M., and then
August 29. marched to the Bull Run battlefield of 1861, passing
through' Manassas.
An order had been issued for the muster-out of the band, but owing
to the excitement of those busy days, no attention was paid to ' it.
In the meantime they kept along with us, not knowing where else
to go.
This skurrying back and forth over almost the same ground day
and night, with short rations and hard work, was harassing. The
rank and file knew little about what was going on, though it did
know that Jackson and Longstreet had crossed the Bull Run
Mountains in spite of our efforts to stop or delay their movements.
We also knew that Stuart had made a daring and successful raid on
Pope's headquarters. Therefore, right or wrong, it betokened to us
an uncertainty and confusion at headquarters, and we felt the hour
could not be far distant when we were to encounter some hard
fighting. These reflections had no effect on our sleep, however,
which was sound as usual.
We spent the first half of the day in marching back
Saturday, and forth in an aimless sort of way, occasionally halting
August 30. as if waiting for some one to put us on the right road.
In one of these halts we were ordered to leave our
knapsacks, whereupon we piled them up on the side of the road in
the woods, and for aught we know they are there yet. [A.D. 1893.]
Toward the middle of the afternoon, under the protection of a knoll,
we hastily drew rations, — eighteen hard-tack, nine spoonfuls of
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 109
1862. sugar and nine of coffee, which allowance was to last us
for three days. In fact this had been our allowance for
some time. During all this marching and counter-marching, a
desultory firing was kept up by the enemy.
Having drawn this meagre supply of rations, we were marched to
the top of a knoll near by and halted. Quite a number of the boys
loaded with canteens started off for water. They had hardly gone
when the enemy opened the battle in deadly earnest by a tremen-
dous artillery fire. The air seemed filled with shot and bursting
shell, the noise of which was deafening. While we stood wondering
what we should be called upon to do, General McDowell rode up,
and inquiring what regiment we were, ordered us into line at once
on the double-quick. As we filed down the knoll, we noticed the
hospital men bringing off the zouaves of General King's division on
stretchers, and a bloody sight it was. Suddenly we received the
order, " On right by file into line ! " and we at once found ourselves
facing the enemy. We were led by General McDowell, whose cour-
age we bad so often doubted. We soon found it was lively wofk,
and the boys were falling fast ; but General Tower was close to us
with all the words of encouragement at his command. Standing in
his stirrups he gave the order to fix bayonets and then to " Charge ! "
In battle the order to charge is not given in the placid tones of a
Sunday-school teacher, but with vigorous English, well seasoned with
oaths, and a request, frequently repeated, to give them that particular
province of his Satanic Majesty most dreaded by persons fond of a
cold climate. At the same time you are ordered to yell with all the
power of your lungs. It is possible that this idea may be of great
advantage in forcing some of the heroic blood of the body into the
lower extremities. Whatever may be the reason, it was certainly a
very effective means of drowning the disagreeable yell of the enemy.
We charged three times, and on each occasion were successfully
driven back by the solid mass of men in front of us. As we fell
back from the last charge, General Tower, on horseback (in the midst
of Company B), a conspicuous mark for the enemy who were within
twenty-five yards of us, was shouting " For God's sake re-form the
line ! " when he was sent flying through the air, both horse and rider
fearfully wounded.
110 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. It was hot work, and the thinness of our line, compared
with the solid ranks of the enemy, made it painfully evi-
dent that we could stand the terrible fire but a short time longer.
Where was our supporting column? Part of the time they had been
firing into our backs, under the impression that we were the enemy.
Fortunately that error was discovered before much harm was done.
Already the enemy had planted some batteries on a neighboring knoll
on our left flank, and were giving us the benefit of a raking fire. The
order was then given to retire ; but as only part of the regiment heard
it, our retreat was irregular and occasioned some confusion and
separation of companies.
The brigade retired in fair order, acquitting itself creditably,
carrying off all guns except those lost in actual combat, and having
checked the enemy's pursuit. That night we bivouacked at Centre-
ville.
General Hartsuff having been sent to the hospital previous to the
battle, his brigade was merged with that of General Tower, under
whose immediate command we fought.
Among the many curious and affecting incidents of an army life
the following possesses more than a common interest :
In one of the companies a boy sixteen years of age, after
gaining his father's consent, enlisted as drummer, being too young
for service in the ranks. The popular idea is that weight and height
are necessary qualifications in a soldier. To be sure, as far as ap-
pearance goes, the large men have the advantage, but when it comes
to fighting qualities, it was shown during the war that the small men
could do quite as much execution, and were quite as good soldiers.
So far as endurance and bravery go, the " ponies," as they were
called, had no superiors.
We were all young — mere boys — but this boy seemed so very
much younger than the rest of us, that few suspected his slight and
youthful frame contained so stout and brave a heart. He joined the
regiment at Fort Independence, and by a sort of natural selection
became the chum of another boy, who, though older in years, was
also slight in physical make-up. Perhaps of the hundred men in
the company, these two boys would have been the last selected as
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. Ill
1862. possessing special merit as soldiers. They both did their
duty faithfully and without a grumble. It was always the
ambition of the younger one to serve in the ranks with his chum and
carry a gun. He proved an inferior drummer by very reason of his
ambition, but no opportunity was afforded him of making the change
until our arrival at Williamsport, Md., when two other boys, possessed
with strong Union sentiments, having escaped from their home in
Martmsburg, Va., where their family had been terribly persecuted be-
cause of the sentiments they expressed, crossed the river and offered
their services as drummers in the Thirteenth, the only capacity in
which they could be received. They were two bright, intelligent boys,
fourteen and sixteen years of age, and were accepted. The oppor-
tunity was thus afforded of promoting our young drummer to service
in the ranks. A happier boy never lived than he on the day when,
with a gun on his shoulder, he paraded with his company. The two
boys were now closer than ever. Being of the same height, they
were enabled to march side by side and render each other assistance
on the long, weary marches of the regiment. They were practically
inseparable. When the regiment went into the fight of Second Bull
Run, the younger was first killed, whereupon the other took him in
his arms to move his body one side, and was immediately killed by a
bullet which struck him in the temple. As the army retreated it was
an affecting sight to see these two boys, so close to each other in life,
now locked in each others arms, in death.
It is not our purpose to give a detailed account of Pope's campaign
or to draw any conclusions from it, nor would we if we had the space,
as it has been written, discussed, investigated, and rewritten by
persons more competent than ourselves to perform such a service.
We have made a few extracts from his report, because they appear to
add an interest to our narrative. Those who wish to read the full
report — and it is of great interest to members of the Thirteenth —
are referred to " Series i. Vol. XII., Part II., of the Official Records
of the War of the Rebellion."
In his report of the campaign. General Pope says :
On the 26th day of June, 1862, by special order of the President of the United
States, I was assigned to the command of the Army of Virginia. That army was
112 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. constituted as follows : First Corps, under Major-General Fremont,
11,500 strong; Second Corps, under Major-General Banks, reported
14,500, but in reality only about 8,000; Third Corps, under Major-General Mc-
Dowell, 18,500; making total of 38,000 men. ...
It was the wish of the Government that I should cover the city of Washington
from an attack from the direction of Richmond, make such dispositions as were
necessary to assure the safety of the valley of the Shenandoah, and at the same
time so operate upon the enemy's lines of communication in the direction of Gor-
donsville and Charlottesville as to draw off, if possible, a considerable force of the
enemy from Richmond, and thus relieve the operations against that city of the
Army of the Potomac. . . .
After General McClellan had taken up his position at Harrison's Landing, I
addressed him a letter, stating to him my position and the distribution of the troops
under my command, and requesting him in all earnestness and good faith to
write me fully and freely his views, and to suggest to me any measures which he
thought desirable to enable me to cooperate with him, or to render any assistance
in my power in the operations of the army under his command.
In reply to this communication, I received a letter from General McClellan,
very general in its terms, and proposing nothing toward the accomplishment of
the purpose I had suggested to him. It became apparent that, considering the
situation in which the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Virginia were placed
in relation to each other, and the absolute necessity of harmonious and prompt
coSperation between them, some military superior both of General McClellan and
myself should be called to Washington and placed in command of all operations
in Virginia. In accordance with these views, Major-General Halleck was
called to Washington and placed in general command. Many circumstances,
which it is not necessary here to set forth, induced me to express to the President,
to the Secretary of War, and to General Halleck, my desire to be relieved from
the command of the Army of Virginia and to be returned to the Western country.
From the i8th of August until the morning of the 27th, the troops under my
command had been continuously marching and fighting, night and day, and
during the whole of that time there was scarcely an interval of an hour without
the roar of artillery. The men had had little sleep, were greatly worn down with
fatigue, had had little time to get proper food, or to eat it, had been engaged in
constant battles and skirmishes, and had performed services laborious, dangerous,
and excessive, beyond any previous experience in this country.
Every indication during the night of the 29th and up to 10 o'clock on the
morning of the 30th pointed to the retreat of the enemy from our front. . . .
Gens. McDowell and Heintzelman, who reconnoitred the position held by the
enemy's left on the evening of the 29th, confirmed this statement. They reported
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 113
1862. to me that the positions occupied by the enemy's left had been
evacuated, and that there was every indication that he wag retreating
in the direction of Gainesville.
On the morning of the 30th, as may be supposed, our troops, who had been so
continually marching and fighting for so many days, were in a state of great ex-
haustion. They had had little to eat for two days previous, and the artillery and
cavalry horses had been in harness .and saddled continually for ten days, and had
had no forage for two days previous. It may easily be imagined how little these
troops, after such severe labor, and undergoing such hardship and privation, were
in condition for active and efficient service. I had telegraphed to the General-in-
Chief, on the 28th, our condition, and begged of him to have rations and forage
sent forward' to us from Alexandria with all despatch. I also called his attention
to the imminent need of cavalry horses to enable the cavalry belonging to the
army to perform any service whatever.
About daylight of the 30th I received a note ftom General Franklin, herewith
appended, written by durection of General McCIellan, and dated at 8 o'clock the
evening before, informing me that rations and forage would be loaded into avail-
able wagons and cars at Alexandria as soon as I would send back a cavalry escort
to bring out the trains. Such a. letter, when we were fighting the enemy, and
Alexandria was swarming with troops, needs no comment. Bad as was the con-
dition of our cavalry, I was in no situation to spare troops from the front, nor
could they have gone to Alexandria and returned within the time by which we
must have had provisions or have fallen back in the direction of Washington, nor
do I yet see what service cavalry could have rendered in guarding railroad trains.
It was not until I received this letter that I began to feel discouraged and
nearly hopeless of any successful issue to the operations with which I was charged,
but I feel it to be my duty, notwithstanding the desperate condition of ray com-
mand, from great fatigue, from want of provisions and forage, and from the small
hope that I had of any effective assistance from Alexandria, to hold my position
at all hazards and under all privations, unless overwhelmed by the superior forces
of the enemy. I had received no sort of information of any troops coming for-
ward to my assistance since the 24th, and did not expect on the morning of the
30th that any assistance would reach me from the direction of Washington, but I
determined again to give battle to the enemy on the 30th, and at least to lay on
such blows as would cripple him as much as possible and delay as long as practi-
cable any farther advance toward the capital.'
Tower's brigade, of Ricketts' division, was pushed forward into action in sup-
port of Reynolds' division, and was led forward in person by General Tower, with
conspicuous skill and gallantry. The conduct of that brigade, in plain view of all
the forces on our left, was especially distinguished, and drew forth hearty and en-
thusiastic cheers. The example of this brigade was of great servioe, and infused
new spirit into all the troops who witnessed their intrepid conduct.
114 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. I well understood, as does every military man, how difficult and
how thankless was the duty devolved upon me, and I am not ashamed
to say that I would gladly have avoided it if I could have done so consistently with
my sense of duty to the Government. To confront with a small army vastly
superior forces, to fight battles without hope of victory, but only to gain time and
to embarrass and delay the forward movements of the enemy, is of all duties the
most hazardous and the most difficult which can be imposed upon any general of
an army. While such operations require the highest courage and endurance on
the part of the troops, they are, perhaps, unlikely to be understood or appreciated,
and the results, however successful, have little in them to attract popular attention
and applause.
From General McDowell's report we take the following statement :
Here the campaign ended. If it had been short it had been severe. Beginning
vvith the retreat from Cedar Mountains, seldom has an army been asked to
undergo more than nur men performed. With scarcely a half-day's intermission
the Third Corps was either making forced marches, many times through the night
and many times without food, etc., or was engaged in battle. Their fatigues
were most severe toward the last, when, on account of the movements of the
enemy, we had to separate from our supplies, and many generals, as well as
privates, had no food, or only such as could be picked up in the orchards or corn-
fields along the road. In all this the patience and endurance and general good
-conduct of the men were admirable. To fight and retreat, and retreat and fight, in
the face of a superior force is a severe test of soldiership. This they did for
fifteen days, and though many broke down under the fatigues and exposures and
many straggled from the ranks, the troops as a general thing behaved most credit-
ably; and even to their return to the lines in front of this place [Washington],
though they were sad at seeing their numbers so much diminished by hardships
and battles which had availed them nothing, and were tited and reduced from
marching and fasting, they preserved their discipline, and it is an abuse of
■words to say they were either demoralized or disorganized.
The services of Tower's brigade were especially arduous, forming the rear
guard on almost every occasion. On the retreat from Cedar Mountain, from the
Rappahannock station, from the Waterloo road, and from Thoroughfare Gap, it
had an undue share of the severities of this campaign. The general was de-
tached from the division with his own and HartsufTs brigade, and posted on
Bald Hill Ridge, where he remained until a severe wound forced him to retire.
Brigadier- General Hartsuff was so ill and weak from overwork as to have to
move from place to place in an ambulance. He had rendered valuable service
both at Cedar Mountain and at Rappahannock station, where he occupied the
advanced position beyond the river. He would not leave his brigade, though
unable to get on his horse, and to save his life I was obliged to interfere and have
him quit us at Warrenton, and thus lost him in the battles which followed.
THIUTEENTa MASS. VOLS. 115
1862. There are few spectacles in this life of ours more
hideous than a battlefield immediately after a battle.
The following is by an eye-witness of the scenes depicted :
" The battle of Manassas; or Second Bull Run, as it has also been
called, was one of the great disasters of the war, and resulted in
losses to the Union Army of eight hundred killed, four thousand
wounded, and three thousand missing ; the Confederate loss being
seven hundred killed, three thousand wounded, and the missing
unknown. The battlefield remained in possession of the enemy, so
that access to it could not be gained except by the protecting influence
of a flag of truce. The attempts that were made by the Govern-
ment did not reach that part of the field where the Thirteenth fought
until seven days had elapsed. Ordinarily the wounded would have
been taken to rebel prisons, but in this instance the enemy needed
all its means of transportation for food, ammunition, etc., so they
escaped that misery, if no other. The battle occurred on Saturday,
and that night and all day Sunday it rained hard. The retreating
army was closely followed by the enemy, who filled the air with shouts
of victory. The roar of artillery, the firing of musketry, and the
noise and uproar of an advancing army was followed by a depressing
stillness, interrupted only by the groans of the wounded, many of
whom barely escaped being trampled to death. It was not long,
however, before the rumbling sound of thunder could be heard in the
distance, and by dark the rain poured down like a deluge. The
thunder was terrific. Crash followed crash with such frequency that
it seemed as if a real battle was going on in the sky. On Monday
morning it cleared away, and until the following Saturday the weather
was bright and clear. During the day, under the influence of the
warm rays of the sun, sleep would come ; but when the sun had
disappeared and darkness followed, the air became cool, as it
generally does the first week in September, and one's teeth would
chatter chatter the whole night long, making sleep impossible.
Shaking with the cold, enduring the agony of pain from undressed
wounds and the pangs of hunger, it seemed as though the nights
would never end. A good many men pegged out under this combi-
nation who might have lived, possibly, had they been removed to
116 • THREE YEABS IN THE ABMY.
1862. hospitals early in the week. By the fourth day the stench
on the field, from decaying bodies, was almost unbearable.
In such a situation it is not to be wondered at that men became irri-
table and resented any attempt on the part of their comrades to cheer
them with words of hope or encouragement.
" Men gathered together in groups and shared their scanty rations
with those who had none, and by the strictest economy were able to
make them last until Monday morning, from which time until Friday
night they had nothing to eat.
« There is one instance that deserves to be recorded, not only for
the exhibition of devotion to the Union cause, but for the tender
feeling that prompted so kind an act. On Thursday afternoon an
old man, not far from sixty years of age, with a bag on his shoulders,
was seen prowling about the field apparently for the purposes of gam,
as he was seen frequently to bend his body as if engaged in searching
the dead. Presently it was discovered that no such motive prompted
his action, inasmuch as his bag was filled with apples and biscuits
which he was distributing to men on the field, giving one to each,
according to choice, that as many as possible might have even a
mouthful. To each and every one visited he proffered a kind and
encouraging word, and it is possible that many a fellow's courage was
kept alive by his patriotic undertaking. He had twice been made a
prisoner for similar acts and for expressing Union sentiments.
" Each day, beginning with Monday, the wounded and dead were
searched by rebel stragglers on the way to rejoin their regiments.
Though there was nothing to gain after the first search, it was car-
ried on just the same, followed by curses at their ill-luck. These
searches were generally conducted by two men, one standing ready
to give a thrust with his bayonet, if objection was made, while the
other would hunt for what his imagination led him to think he could
find. There were other men, however, who came on to the field
who were intelligent and cultured, possessed of gentlemanly instincts,
and who expressed regrets that they were unable to gratify the urgent
demands for food. All seemed convinced that the stories told them
about grass growing in the streets of New York were true, and
ridiculed the denials of such silly statements.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 117
1862. " There was still another class who paid them a visit,
and who remarked that 'You 'uns came down to fight
we 'uns, but we 'uns licked h — 1 out of you 'uns,' which remark
was painfully true.
. " There were other visitors besides soldiers. The turkey buzzard
made it his home as soon as the bodies became sufficiently putrid to
satisfy his epicurean tastes. They are repulsive-looking birds, with
eyes as bleared as an old soaker's, and a neck as bare of feathers
as if they indulged in a daily shave. When they were completely
gorged with food they would settle their heads down close to their
bodies, concealing their naked necks, and remain torpid until nature
had completed the work of digestion, when they would wake up and
go at it again.
" Friday afternoon a Confederate officer, with assistants, came on to
the field, recorded each man's name and regiment, requiring him to
swear that he would not take arms against the Confederacy until
legally notified of his exchange, — a useless formality in this case, as
it is hardly likely that any man who laid on that field ever returned to
the army. After he had performed this duty, he was followed by a
band of Union surgeons, who were allowed to come on to the field
under a flag of truce to prepare the men for removal on the following
day. After their wounds were dressed, each man was given a drink
of whiskey, a sUce of raw pork, and some hard bread. Under the
circumstances, perhaps this was sufficient, after so long a fast, but
men are sometimes very unreasonable, as the wounded may have ap-
peared to be in this instance. After the men were thus attended to,
the surgeons sat down to a meal composed of canned food of various
kinds, bread, and hot coffee, making a very unpleasant contrast to the
raw pork. The hot coffee was probably " the straw that broke the
camel's back," inasmuch as a draught of that wholesome and agreeable
beverage would have given more satisfaction than the food dispensed.
When the men saw this lay-out, they indulged in remarks of a highly
seasoned character, which were deemed unnecessary and out of
place to those by whom they were overheard, calling forth from the
listeners some emphatic expressions about the ingratitude of man.
"On the following morning, Saturday, about 11 o'clock, a train of
118 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. two hundred and seventy-five vehicles was in readiness,
and it started on a journey of thirty-eight miles, threading
its way among the dead horses, and men swollen beyond recognition,
the shattered guns and equipments, broken wheels and other debris
of a battlefield, until it reached Washington about 3 o'clock Sunday
morning, when the train was divided and the men distributed among
the hospitals of that city. Whoever has seen a battlefield will allow
that no words of description can give an adequate idea of its sicken-
ing horror."
According to the official report, the regiment lost twenty-one
killed and one hundred and eight wounded. Of the wounded, four
were officers.
An idea of the excitement that prevailed in Boston and elsewhere
may be obtained from the papers of that date. A report of the
disaster was received as the people were on the way to church. The
feeling occasioned by the startling news of the battle was so intense
that thoughts of worship were forgotten in the excitement. The fol-
lowing graphic account of what was done is taken from one of the
daily papers :
The grace of God seemed to be in the hearts of all the people yesterday. With
the news of the bloody battles around Centreville, came the request for hospital
stores. Every household, it appeared, immediately engaged in preparing lint,
towels, sheets, bandages, or in packing brandy, wines, jellies, and other articles
required by the wounded and sick. Intimation Was given at the church doors of
what was needed, and pews were deserted for vestries, where good was being
done on thd Sabbath day. By 3 o'clock in the afternoon all the express
wagons in the city were loaded with barrels, boxes, baskets, filled with articles,
and it seemed as though enough left the city to answer the emergency of one
hundred thousand dollars. . . .
The money offered at the sanitary headquarters in Tremont street amounted to
a large sum in the aggregate, — every one was anxious to do something to mitigate
the sufferings of the disabled, and if ever a whole community was deeply, intensely
moved by heartfelt sympathy, it was the people of Boston, yesterday. I.et not
the heavenly sentiment slumber, but be quickened by constant deeds of love, duty,
patriotism, until the Angel of Peace shall spread his wings over our whole land.
To properly picture Tremont Temple as it appeared yesterday afternoon would
require the pen of the poet, the eye of the artist, and the spirit of the philosopher.
Not less than 1,000 women were busily, earnestly at work in the manufacture of
bandages and lint. Innumerable sheets, garments, towels, and other articles
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 119
1862. and fabrics were torn into strips, sewed together, and then rolled up
in the best manner. Upstairs and down, in the gallery, upon the
platform, in the doorways, in the aisles, on the stairways, from top to bottom,
were these ministering angels laboring with an industry and zeal worthy of the
ennobling cause. It was a glorious, a. beautiful, and a rare spectacle. From
morn until dark was this most interesting spectacle prosecuted. Men were
cutting and tearing fabrics, women sewing and rolling them, boys and girls were
supplying needles and thread — bandages by the thousands, lint by the cart-load,
were in this manner made ready. What more appropriate labor for the Sabbath;
and in what place more fit than the sanctuary ?
We remained in Centreville all day in line-of-battle.
Sunday, During the day, the men who were unable to keep up
August 31. with the regiment, when we marched to the rear, re-
joined us.
Band mustered out. Something has already been
Monday, said in these pages to show how much we enjoyed the
Sept. t. presence of our band. It was one of the best in the
service, and afforded us daily entertainment that was
highly appreciated. Its departure left a vacancy that nothing could
fill.
About 3 P.M. we marched to Chantilly, where the enemy had
made an attack. We laid in line-of-battle as reserve, but did no
fighting. While in this position, General Ricketts rode up and an-
nounced the fact that General McDowell had been relieved from his
command, and that he had been succeeded by General Hooker. The
cheers that went up at this news were such as had not been heard
from the boys for many a day. It produced a cheerfulness that even
the thunder-storm, which wet us through to the skin, failed to affect.
Thus ended our service under General McDowell, about whom
General McClellan makes the following statement in his book :
[July 30, i86i.]
At this period I committed one of my gravest errors : that was in retaining
General McDowell on duty with the troops under my command. I knew that he
had been a close student of military affairs, and thought he possessed sufficient
ability to be useful in a subordinate capacity. Moreover', I pitied him extremely,
and thought that circumstances had as much to do with his failure at Bull Run as
any want of ability and energy on his part. I knew that if I sent him away he
would be ruined for life, and desired to give him an opportunity to retrieve his
120 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
i86a. military reputation. I therefore left him in the nominal command
on the Virginia side of the river, until the order forming the army of
the Potomac was issued, he doing some little bureau work and retaining a large
staff, while I performed the real military labor demanded by the occasion. I was
sadly deceived. He never appreciated my motives, and felt no gratitude for my
forbearance and kindness. Subsequent events proved that, although in some
respects a very good bureau officer and a fair disciplinarian and drill officer for a
school of instruction, he lacked the qualities necessary for a commander in the
field.
Good judges, long ago, decided that McDowell was a faithful,
competent, and loyal general officer, McClellan's opinion to the
contrary notwithstanding.
Marched to Hall's Hill, about five miles from Wash-
g ington, and went into camp on elevated ground, from
which could be seen the Capitol.
On this day General McClellan was put in command of the forti-
fications of Washington and all the troops for the defence of the
capital.
In " McClellan's Own Story " appears the following account of
what occurred on his arrival at Upton's Hill :
A regiment of cavalry, marching by twos, and sandwiched in the midst of which
were Pope and McDowell with their staff officers. I never saw a more helpless-
looking headquarters. When these generals rode up to me and the ordinary
salutations had passed, I inquired what that artillery firing was. Pope replied that
it was no doubt that of the enemy against Sumner, who formed the rear guard, and
was to march by the Vienna and Langley road. He also intimated that Sumner was
probably in a dilemma. He could give no information of any importance in re-
lation to the whereabouts of the different corps, except in a most indefinite way;
had evidently not troubled his head in the slightest about the movements of his
army in retreat, and had coolly preceded the troops, leaving them to get out of
the scrape as best they could.
He and McDowell both asked my permission to go to Washington, to which I
assented, remarking at the same time that /was going to that ardUery firing.
He further says that
Nothing but a desire to do my duty could have induced me to accept the com-
mand under such circumstances. Not feeling sure that I could do anything, I felt
that under the circumstance, no one else couU save the country, and I have not
shrunk from the terrible task. McDowell's own men would have killed him had
he made his appearance among them; even his own staff did not dare to go
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 121
1862. among his men. I can afford to forgive and forget him. I have
not seen them since; I hope never to lay eyes on them again.
Between them they are responsible for the lives of many of my best and bravest
men. They have done all they could (unintentionally, I hope) to ruin and de-
stroy the country.
A good deal was said during the war about soldiers shooting their
officers. Such kind of talk was unknown in our regiment. So far
as our brigade is concerned General McDowell would have been as
safe within its lines as in his own home. During the entire war there
was not another instance of an oiScer being more thoroughly disliked
by his men than was McDowell by his corps. The mere mention of
his name generally excited the strongest execrations, and yet it has
been proven that he was one of the best officers in the army. It is
doubtful if any officer who served during those four years could have
shown a. finer record of exemplary conduct or subordination as an
officer. It is difficult after thirty years to recall an excuse for our
feelings toward him. We were as thoughtless in our dislike of him
as we were in our admiration of McClellan. The last part of our
service under McDowell was very hard, and the rapidity and fre-
quency of our movements made it difficult for wagons to reach us
with rations, so that we often were very short. Every time a dis-
agreeable order was received it was placed to his credit. If rations
were scanty, or marches long, McDowell was the cause, and so, little
by little, we came to hate the sight of him. To transfer our loyalty
and affection from Banks, with whom we had been since our entry
into service, to McDowell, was not an easy thing to do, particularly
as our admiration for General Banks was very strong. McDowell
had a fiery temper that occasionally found utterance. His exhi-
bitions of irritability were related by the observers, and in passing
from mouth to mouth received the customary exaggeration and polish
that such stories generally get, and no doubt furnished a ground-
work for the superstructure of ill-will that we reared to his credit.
Since his death the Government has published the War Records, and
the story of this campaign with the orders and dispatches sent at
the time are open to us for our inspection and information. It is
impossible to read these records, even with our prejudices excited as
122 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. they were in 1862, without feeling a pang of regret that
we should have been so unreasonable.
On the 30th of August we were witnesses to an exhibition of his
bravery that removed, from our minds at least, the charge that had
been made by the newspapers, as well as his men, that he was a
coward and a traitor. After he was relieved of his command he
demanded to be heard before a Court of Inquiry, which was duly
appointed and convened for the purpose.
The court held its sessions for more than sixty days in readiness
to receive from his most vindictive enemy charges or information
that could be proved. One of the charges made against him was
drunkenness, and it was shown by his own statement under oath,
and by ample corroborating evidence, that he had never drank a
drop of liquor in his life. As we read page after page of this
record our admiration is excited at his patient, manly bearing, and
the ease with which he disproved the assertions of his enemies. The
testimony of General Hartsuff is particularly interesting, as showing
very vividly and very truthfully the state of our feelings in the Front
Royal and Bull Run campaigns :
Question by General McDowell. What command have you held under Gen-
eral McDowell? When did you come under his command? In what condition
was the brigade when you first joined it?
Answer. I commanded a brigade under General McDowell. I came under
his command on the first of last May. The general condition of the brigade was
good.
Question by General McDowell. How was it as to means of transportation
and camp equipage when you joined it?
Answer, The means of transportation and the amount of camp equipage
were very abundant; unusually so.
Question by General McDowell. What reduction was made in the means of
transportation and in the camp equipage on your coming under General McDow-
ell's immediate command at Fredericksburg?
Answer. The number of wagons to each regiment was reduced to seven or
eight, I think. The Sibley tents, with which the command was furnished, were
changed to shelter- tents; officers' baggage was necessarily considerably reduced,
and the baggage of company messes, and baggage generally of officers and men.
Question by General McDowell. Do you know if the reduction of means o(
transportation and camp equipage was the cause of any feeling or the cause ol
any remark in the brigade ?
TEIBTKENTH MASS. VOLS. 123
1862. Answer. It was the cause of considerable feeling and many re-
marks of ill-will toward General McDowell by officers and men. I
did not hear the remarks of the men, but am satisfied remarks of the kind were
made.
Question by General McDowell. State, if you know, of another cause of ill-
feeling toward General McDowell or dissatisfaction with him in that brigade, con-
nected with their having been under another department commander, where these
restrictions had not been made.
Answer. Three of the four regiments composing ray brigade had been under
the command of General Banks. The brigade was, as they believed, temporarily
attached to General McDowell's command. They were very desirous of getting
back under General Banks' command, believing the amount of transportation
they brought to General McDowell's command would be restored to them, and
with it their baggage and comforts.
Question by General McDowell. Was anything done at Front Royal or at
Warrenton to lead these regiments to continue in this belief that they would con-
tinue under General McDowell ?
Answer. At Front Royal some officers of Massachusetts regiments visited
General Banks, who was then at Middletown, and brought from him the assur-
ance that the brigade would soon again be under his command. At Warrenton,
in July last, General Banks visited the command one evening and spoke to the
regiments separately, I believe, telling them, as I heard, that they would soon be
again under his command; that he was making efforts to get them back. I did
not hear him myself.
Question by General McDowell. What was the nature of the forced march,
as to severity, of the brigade from, Alexandria to Front Royal?
Answer. The weather at that time was very hot, and the march, considering
the weather, was made as quickly as troops could perform it and be at all efficient
at the end of the march.
Question by General McDowell. Was that march the cause of complaint, so
far as you know, in the brigade ?
Answer. It was the cause of complaint, and I saw afterward letters written
by the officers of the brigade and published in the Boston newspapers, containing
severe strictures on General McDowell as the author of suffisring on the marches.
The letter was filled with falsehoods.
Question by General McDowell. Was there any complaint that the men were
forced over the Blue Ridge in the rain and without tents or shelter?
Answer. There was such complaint.
Question by General McDowell. Where did the brigade stop and how were
they occupied the night before they reached Front Royal ?
Answer. They stopped between two and three miles of the town of Front
Royal, bivouacked in some pine bushes by the roa4side.
Question by General McDowell. What kind of weather was it that night?
124 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. Answer. There was a severe rain-storm during the whole of
the night.
Question by the Court. Do you know any matter or thing tending to show
that General McDowell was treacherous, incompetent, unfaithful, or otherwise
disqiialiBed for the command of a division, corps, or department ; and if you do,
state what you know as fully as though you were specifically interrogated in
respect thereto ?
Answer. I do not know any such cause.
As the Thirteenth was in Ricketts' diWsion it will be interesting to
read the following extract of the testimony of Brig.-Gen. James
B. Ricketts:
Question by the Court. At what time did you reach Thoroughfare Gap, on the
morning of that day, with your division?
Answer. I don't know the time of day. I do not know that it was in the
morning; I think it was in the afternoon.
Question by the Court. Had you any orders from General McDowell in respect
to your movements that day? If so, how were they communicated, and when,
and what were they? State fully and particularly.
Answer. I received an order on that day to send a brigade and a battery of
artillery to support Colonel- Wyndam at Thoroughfare Gap, and to push on to the
same place with the rest of my division. I do not know what hour of the day the
order was received, but should judge some time in the forenoon. I was at the
time with my division on the road from Buckland Mills to Gainesville, and marched
directly across the country by Hay Market. This order was brought to me by
Captain Wadsworth, of General McDowell's staff, and was in writing. Some-
where between Hay Market and Thoroughfare Gap I saw Captain L>eski, of
General McDowell's staff, who gave directions to go to Thoroughfare Gap; he
gave pretty much the same order, to go there and support Colonel Wyndam at
the Gap. That is all I recollect.
Question by the Court. Did you have any engagement with the enemy at the
Gap; and if so, at what time?
Answer. I had an engagement in the afternoon of the 28th, which continued
until dark.
Question by the Court. At what time did you retire from the Gap, and where
did you go ?
Answer. I retired from the Gap just after dark on the evening of the 28th,
and rested my division that night between Hay Market and Gainesville. I was
myself at Gainesville.
Question by the Court. Where did you move when you left Hay Market and
Gainesville, and at what time did you start?
Answer. I moved toward Manassas, and started very early in the morning of
the 29th, after break of day.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 125
1862. Question by the Court. How far past Manassas did you go, and
where?
Answer. I was conducted by a guide on the Sudley Springs road, and remained
near the road, not far from the Henry house, where the headquarters of my division
remained for the night.
Question by the Court. What orders or occasion had you to go from Thorough-
fare Gap to the place referred to by you, between Gainesville and Manassas?
Answer. I left Thoroughfare Gap because the enemy was turning the right and
left flank. I left Gainesville because General King sent me word that he would
retire toward Manassas ; that was all.
Question by the Court. Did any communication other than the one referred to
in yoiur last answer pass between you and General King during the 28th August
and up to the time that you moved from Gainesville on the morning of the 29th?
And, if so, state what they were.
Answer. I had two communications from General King; the first stating that
he had an engagement with the enemy and had held his ground; the other
representing a large force of the enemy in front of him, and that he would retire
toward Manassas. In answer to the last I told him that I would retire from my
position. I do not recollect of any others.
Question by the Court. Why did not you await orders from General McDowell
to move from Gainesville on the morning of the 29th August ?
Answer. When General King sent me word that he would retire, I then knew
I would be unsupported.
On the 1 6th of January the examination of General Ricketts was
continued as follows by General McDowell :
Question by General McDowell. What o'clock on the 28th of August were
you ordered to march from your bivouac beyond Buckland Mills?
Answer. I was ordered to march at 2 o'clock in the morning.
Question by General McDowell. How far did you march on the Warrenton
turnpike before you turned off the road to go by Hay Market under the order
given you by Capt. Wadsworth ?
Answer. I had crossed the bridge at Broad Run, and was but a very short dis-
tance from it.
Question by General McDowell. Do you know any cause of delay in getting
forward from your bivouac to the place where you turned off; were there any
obstructions in the road ?
Answer. The road was very much encumbered by wagons. I saw a very
large number in the vicinity of this stream -^ Broad Run.
The following is taken from General Longstreet's report of his
arrival at Thoroughfare Gap :
126 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. The head of my column reached Thoroughfare Gap about three
P.M., on the 28th. A small party of infantry was sent into the
mountain to reconnoitre. Passing through the Gap, Colonel Beck, of the Ninth
Georgia Regiment, met the enemy, but was obliged to retire before a greatly
superior force. The enemy held a strong position on the opposite gorge and suc-
ceeded in getting his sharpshooters in position on the mountain. Brig.-Gen. O. R.
Jones advanced two of his brigades rapidly, and soon drove the enemy from his
position on the mountain. Brig.-Gen. Hood, with his own and General Whiting's
brigade, was ordered by a foot-path over the mountain to turn the enemy's right,
and Brig.-Gen. Wilcox, with his own and Brig.-Gens. Featherstone's and Pryor's
brigades, was ordered through Hopewell Gap, three miles to our left, to turn the
right and attack the enemy in the rear. The enemy made his attack upon Jones>
however, before these troops could get into their positions, and after being repulsed
with severe loss, commenced his retreat just before night.
On reading the foregoing statements, a discrepancy as to the
hour of our retiring will be noticed in the statements of Generals
Ricketts and Longstreet. Though of no great consequence to our
narrative, the fact prompts us to say that we believe Longstreet's
statement to be the correct one, so far as our brigade was concerned.
In the long report made by the court, in rendering its decision
exonerating General McDowell, occurs the following tribute to his
character, and we gladly give it publication :
When General Pope assumed command of the Army of Virginia, on the 26th of
June, 1862, althoiigh in order of rank he was below General McDowell, he re-
ceived from that ofiicer the most valuable and cordial cooperation and assistance.
The court dwell with satisfaction on these fine qualities of military subordination
frequently exemplified by General McDowell under circumstances tr}ring to the
pride and emulation of a general officer.
The following is taken from a copy of the "Boston Evening
Transcript," published in May, 1870 :
General Irvin McDowell was, at the beginning of the War of the Rebellion,
in consequence of the disaster of the first Bull Run, one of the best abused men
in the country. His taken-for-granted military blunders and personal character
were condemned in unqualified terms; and except with a few, his name was
synonymous with imbecility and unworthiness. Perhaps there never was an in-
stance of grosser injustice done to a faithful soldier, devoted patriot, and courteous
high-toned gentleman, than was done to one whose misfortune it was to be com-
pelled to command undisciplined and inexperienced troops under the direction of
a blind, excited, and exacting public sentiment. But his subsequent record and
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 127
l86a. his patient waiting for time to bring the rightful judgment and
justification are having their reward. The " Chicago Tribune," as
copied by the " Army and Navy Journal," may exaggerate the probable conse-
quences of this reaction in favor of the maligned, misrepresented, and misunderstood
•officer; but to a very large extent its statements and decision will now be cor-
dially indorsed as the truth. Many will read the following paragraph from the
"Tribune's" vindication with pleasure:
" Last winter when the Army of the Potomac met at Philadelphia, and McDowell
sat quietly among them, thinking himself an unsuccessful man, and one set down
among the failures of the war, a quiet young officer arose with his glass in his
hand, and proposed the health of General McDowell. As he did so he made a
stammering effort to say that since the war had passed by, and we had come to
know man for man and man to man, we were equal to the appreciation of the
commander of the first Army of the Potomac. At once the whole table rattled
with bravos and hearty cheers, and amidst more applause than had greeted the
name of any man that night, McDowell rose, profoundly moved, the most patient
and heroic martyr of the war, and he said, as he had always said, that he knew
the justice of his countrymen would come at last; that he had expected it long
before, but that he had not complained, because he knew that it would come; and
then his cold, regular army nature melting down to the occasion, he gave a little
burst of egotism, which was truer than tears, because it was both the occasion
and himself. His great element of character was resignation, never mutinying,
never abusing any man behind his back, holding to the cause at the expense of
frightful calumnies heaped upon himself; and it is probable that his fame will
grow henceforward as roundly as, during the war, it was suddenly obscured;"
What we have quoted is sufficient to show how unjust we were to
a gallant officer, and we freely confess ourselves in the wrong. It
would have been much better on our part to have made this avowal
during his lifetime ; but the opportunity never seemed at hand when
we could do it gracefully, and now the time is past when it can afford
him any gratification j but, nevertheless, we owe it to his memory, as
well as to ourselves, to make this acknowledgment. We were young,
at an age when one's judgment is more often influenced by what
a£fects one's personal welfare or comfort, than a sober consideration
of facts. Our service under him began at a time when the Government
found it necessary to curtail the equipment of the army, and restrict
it in many ways, still retaining what in the years 1863-4 would have
been considered luxuries. Our transfer from the command of
General Banks, mider whom our service had been particularly
128 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMT.
1862. pleasant, was not in accordance with our wishes, and we
were in daily expectation of returning to his corps. " Hope
deferred maketh the heart sick," was true in our case. It seemed
like disloyalty, after nine months' service under Banks, to suddenly
transfer our soldierly regard to a stranger under whom we expected to
serve but a short time. Therefore, every disagreeable order or cur-
tailment was looked upon as something peculiar to McDowell, which
we would escape on returning to Banks. McDowell had none of those
traits of personal magnetism which have often made inferior generals
very popular with the rank and file. His temper, which had been
exhibited on several trying occasions, was exaggerated by the state-
ments of those who were witnesses to it, while omitting the qualifying
circumstances of the occasion. The newspapers that we received
held him up to public contempt, and were filled with tales of his
habits and the belief that he was a traitor, etc., all of which affected
our susceptible minds, and aggravated the annoyance we felt at re-
maining under his command. It seems as though these impressions
might have been corrected by just a little effort on his part, though
it doesn't appear that he took the first step toward counteracting the
ill-will that was bestowed upon him.
We were still at Hall's Hill. As this was the first field
_ on which we had slept two nights in succession for two
weeks, an opportunity was afforded us to make up some
of our lost sleep, which we took advantage of by day as well as night.
Still another day of quietude, except to those unhappy
Thursday, creatures who had to go on guard. The wagons which
Sept. 4. we had not seen since the i8th of August, returned to-
day. While this brought little comfort to the rank and
file, it meant a good deal to the officers, who had been deprived of
any shelter but blankets during the interim. It is no wonder, there-
fore, that they were happy at the sight of their tents and the oppor-
tunity of changing their clothing.
The sutler arrived with quantities of canned food,
Friday, fruits, and other luxuries. As our credit was still good
Sept. 5. with the sutler, we made the most of it, and many a
" belly was with fat capon lined." The sutler and the
THIBTEESTH MASS. VOLS. 129
1862. quartermaster succeeded in raising our spirits to a high
state of buoyancy.
About 8 P.M. we started on a long, all-night march,
Sept. 6. ' goit^g through Georgetown and Washington, without
halting, not even paying our respects to the President,
who had done the honor of calling on us at Falmouth.
In a letter written by General McClellan, under date of Septem-
ber 5, he makes the following statement :
It makes my heart bleed to see the poor, shattered remnants of my noble
Army of the Potomac. Poor fellows ! and to see how they love me even now.
I hear them calling out to me, as I ride among them, " George, don't leave us
again ! " "They shan't take you away from us again," etc.
How sweet ! and to think this man marched us on Sundays.
On the 6th of September the Secretary of War issued an order,
as follows :
Major-General McDowell, at his own request, is hereby relieved from the
command of the Third Army Corps, and Major-General Reno is, by direction of
the President, assigned to the command.
On the same day General McClellan issued the following order :
Maj.-Gen. Joseph Hooker is assigned to the command of the Third Corps,
Army of Virginia, lately commanded by Major-General McDowell. He will
assume command immediately .
The following orders of the same date explain themselves :
Washington, Sept. 6, 1862, 4.05 P.M.
Major-General McDowell,
Or Senior- Officer Commanding First Army Corps, Upton's Hill :
General McClellan directs that you move your corps at once to this side of the
river, by the Long and Aqueduct bridges, taking the Seventh-street road to
Leesborough, or vicinity. It is important that this movement be made promptly.
(Signed) A. V. COLBURN,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
The designation First Corps in the above address must have been
an error.
130 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
i86a. Headquarters Third Corps,
Near Arlington House, Sept 6, 1862, 5.30 P.M.
Colonel CoiSVKfi, Assistant Adjutanl-General, Washittgton :
I have received your telegram, directed to Upton's Hill, ordering the movement
of the Third Corps to Leesborough. As I am informed at the War Department
that I am relieved from the command of this corps, I have turned over the order
to the second in command. General Ricketts.
(Signed) IRVIN McDOWELL,
Major- General.
Sett. 6, 1862, 7.50 P.M.
Brig.-Gen. %.'^\lAAtM%, Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington:
Shall the divisions of the Third Corps, ordered to move to Leesborongh, quit the
forts at Upton's Hill before they are dismantled and the ammunition removed?
Will you please give the order direct, as I move my headquarters to Washington.
(Signed) IRVIN McDOWELL,
Major- General.
Headquarters Army, Sept. 6, 1862.
Major-General McDowell, Arlington :
General Porter has been instructed to relieve the pickets of the Third Corps
immediately, and to remove the heavy guns from Upton's Hill during the night,
leaving an advance guard in the works there to hold it against an attack of pickets
of inferior force.
(Signed) S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- General,
Special Orders, \
No. 224. J War Department, Adjutant-General's Office,
Washington, Sept. 6, 1862.
XIII. Major-General McDowell, at his own request, is hereby relieved from
the command of the Third Army Corps, and Major-General Reno is, by direction
of the President, assigned to the command.
By order of the Secretary of War,
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
Special Orders, \
No. 3. / Headquarters, Washington, Sept. 6, 1862.
XVII. M^or-General Hooker is assigned to the command of the Third Corps,
Army of Virginia, lately commanded by Major-General McDowell. He will
assume command immediately.
By command of Major-General McClellan.
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- Gtntrml.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 131
CHAPTER VII.
1862. At daylight we halted, having marched all night.
Sunday, ^Vg ^gj.g about ten miles from Washington on the Balti-
*^ ■ more road. About 9 A.M. we resumed our march, and
after tramping five miles went into camp.
We were back in Maryland, which we left six months before.
^Vhile the progress we had made toward crushing the rebellion was
not very flattering, it afforded us pleasure to be again marching
among loyal people who had an interest in our welfare.
We were now about half-way between Washington and
Monday, Darnestown, the place where we were encamped a year
Sept. 8. ago. Then we were a thousand strong ; but now we
had dwindled to half that number. Some were killed,
and a good many in hospitals, wounded or sick, never to return.
Yesterday at 4.15 P.M. we marched to Mechanicsville,
Wednesday, about eight miles, where we now were.
Sept. 10. ^g received another lot of recruits to-day, and a fine-
looking set of men they were. It is a notable fact that
this batch of recruits was the last in which we had any feeling of
pride. Up to and including this time we had been fortunate in our
recruits. They were a credit to the State and reflected honor upon
the regiment ; they were in such marked contrast to those who fol-
lowed that the fact is worth mentioning.
Disappointment and mortification was the lot of one of this num-
ber, who came to us full of confidence and hope. Having completed
his school education he was seized with the patriotic desire to enlist,
and leaving the tender care of mother and father he joined the
Thirteenth. His first shock was at our appearance. Instead of
bright uniforms, with gilt buttons and shoulder knots, he found us
with ragged trousers, ill-fitting blouses, and torn and faded caps —
132 THREE TEARS liV THE ARMY.
i86a. the result of long marches over dusty roads and bivouack-
ing in ploughed fields, that made us look more like a
regiment of tramps than soldiers.
On the morning following his arrival, our new recruit made inquiry
of his comrades as to where he was to get milk for his coffee, and
was told that the captain kept the milk in his tent. Having perfect
confidence in his comrades, he made application at once. The cap-
tain was surprised at the request, and explained to him that milk was
not in the list of articles of diet provided by the Government. Of
course the recruit felt mortified at his mistake, but made the best of it,
though it destroyed his confidence for a while in his associates' state-
ments. He learned that " Ask and ye shall receive " had no coin-
age in the army. Notwithstanding his verdancy he became an
excellent soldier.
Most of us cared little about the deprivation of milk, though the
temptation was strong among some of the boys, when sighting a cow,
to ascertain if they had lost the trick of milking. Although a cow,
under ordinary circumstances, is a peaceable animal, she draws the
line when her lactary reservoir is being too energetically pumped.
To hold a dipper with one hand and milk with the other, particularly
when three other hands were endeavoring to do the same thing on
the same cow, and she unwilling to stand still, required a degree of
skill that few of us possessed. In spite of being well-aimed, the
stream of milk would generally go in any direction but that of the
dipper ; hence the necessity of struggling with this problem when no
other soldiers were about, unless you were fond of unrewarded labor.
Therefore most of us preferred buying it at farm-houses, though the
demand was so much greater than the supply, we were often disap-
pointed in our efforts to obtain it. When the sutler was with us we
could buy " condensed milk," which we found an excellent substitute.
At 9 A.M. we started on the march and kept it up all
urs ay, ^^^^ ^^ ^ ^j^^^ tedious manner, until we paced off twelve
miles on the road to Frederick.
Friday, After inspection in the morning we marched to Ridge-
Sept. 12. yjjjg^ seven miles, and camped.
THIHTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 133
General Orders 1
No. 129. J War Department, Adjutant-General's Office,
Washington, Sept. 12, 1862.
I. The President directs that the First, Second, and Third Corps of the Army
of Virginia, announced in General Orders No. 103, be hereafter designated the
First, Eleventh, and Twelfth. The several army corps will now stand as follows :
The First, Second, Third, and Fourth, as arranged in General Orders No. 151,
of March 13, 1862, from the Headquarters Army of the Potomac.
The Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth, as announced in General Orders
No. 84, of July" 22, 1862, from this office.
The Tenth, as announced in General Orders No. 123, of Sept. 3, 1862, from
this ofEce.
The Eleventh and Twelfth the same as the First and Second Corps, Army of
Virginia.
By order of the Secretary of War,
L. THOMAS,
, Adjutant- General.
1862.
Saturday, We Started at i P.M. and marched twelve more miles
Sept. 13. toward Frederick.
At 5 A.M. we broke camp and marched all day with fre-
Sunday, quent and uncertain halts, passing through Frederick
Septj>i4. and Middletown, until about six o'clock, when our di-
vision (Hooker's) was placed in second line of battle
on South Mountain. As we climbed up the steep sides.of the moun-
tain we were iired at by the enemy, who made the very common
mistake of soldiers when firing from an elevated position, — that of
firing too high, — by which means we escaped any casualties. We
laid on our arms until morning.
The unexpected often happens in the army. When we retreated
from Manassas, the afternoon of August 30, we gave up all hope of
seeing our knapsacks again, as the grove where they were deposited
had been taken possession of by the enemy. During our advance
up the mountain to-day, the dead body of a rebel belonging to a
Georgia regiment was seen lying on the ground near the road, where
he was killed. One of our boys, regretting the loss of his knapsack,
and noticing the Reb had one, concluded to make good his loss by
transferring it to his own back. Now the most astonishing thing
about this was the discovery, upon removing the knapsack, that it
134 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. was his own property, which had been toted from Man-
assas to South Mountain by a rebel soldier. He was still
more amazed on opening it to find the contents had been undisturbed.
The following is taken from the report of General Ricketts, our
division commander, dated Sept. 21, 1862 :
On the morning of the 14th instant the division was under arms to march at
daylight from its encampment near the Monocacy, and arrived at the east side of
South Mountain, about a. mile north of the turnpike, at 5 P.M., forming line
of battle. First Brigade, Brigadier-General Duryea, on the extreme right; Third
Brigade, Brigadier-General Hartsuff, in the centre, and Second Brigade, Colonel
Christian, on the left. The route of the First and Third Brigades extended over
a very rough ground to the crest of the mountain, which was gallantly won. On
the left the Second Brigade was sent to the relief of General Doubleday's, which
was hard pressed and nearly out of ammunition. It engaged the enemy with
terrible effect, and drove him down the west side of the mountain.
It being now too dark to advance, and the men much exhausted, operations
ceased for the night The next morning, the enemy having fled during the night,
the division moved forward and encamped near Keedysville. The artillery was
not engaged.
In his report on the battle of South Mountain, General Hooker
makes the following statement :
It being very dark, our troops were directed to remain in position, and Hart-
suff 's brigade was brought up and formed a line across the valley, connecting
with Meade's left and Hatch's right, and all were directed to sleep on their arms.
At dawn, Hartsuff 's skirmishers were thrown forward, supported by his brigade,
to the Mountain House, a mounted picket of the enemy retreating as they ad-
vanced. The enemy had been reenforced by twenty regiments of Longstreet's
corps during the early part of the night, but between 13 and I o'clock commenced
a hurried and confused retreat, leaving his dead on our hands and his wounded
uncared for.
Marched at daylight, two companies being thrown out
Monday, in front as skirmishers, until the top of the mountain was
Sept. 15. reached, when we saw the enemy retreating toward
Boonsboro', whereupon we started in chase, passing
through that town to Keedysville, about ten miles, without overtaking
them. It is not without some truth they were called the " Fleet-
footed Virginians."
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 135
i86a. The towns of Boonsboro' and Keedysville were dec-
orated with Union flags, and it was inspiring to inarch
through towns with Uncle Sam's bunting displayed, and listen to
encouraging words from friends. This was our stamping ground of
'6 1, and it seemed like home to us.
At 3.30 P.M. we moved across a bridge toward the
Tuesday, village of Bakersville, on the Hagerstown and Sharps-
Sept. 16. burg turnpike, turning to the left after crossing a country
road, also leading to Sharpsburg, moving parallel to it
nearly half a mile under a heavy artillery fire from the enemy. In
order that their guns might have as little effect as possible we were
formed " double column half distance " and march to the front, then
to the right, then front, then to the left, then front, then right again,
then front, always preserving our formation, and gaining to the front
all the time. This movement made under a heavy fire was performed
with as much precision and coolness as though the regiment was on a
battalion drUl. It is worth mentioning to show what good use may
be made of the skill and confidence acquired by constant drilling.
It was a gray, misty morning, and like the girl who
Wednesday, was to be Queen of the May, we were called early.
Sept. 17. AH night long the firing of guns on the picket line in
front of us disturbed our sleep, sounding very much like
a " night before the Fourth " at home. While we were endeavor-
ing to see whether the men moving in front of us were our own men
or the rebels, an aid from General Hooker's staff dashed up to where
we stood, and, after satisfying himself, ordered us to move. We
went obliquely to the right, across a fence, then across a lane and
on to the corner of the woods, from which we moved to the corn-
field in front of the Dunker Church. As we entered the corn-field
we were received by a sudden volley from the enemy, who, until that
moment, were lying concealed from view. Here we stayed until our
ammunition was exhausted, when we were relieved and marched to
the rear, where our cartridge-boxes were replenished, and where we
remained the rest of the day. We took into this fight three hundred
and one men and brought out one hundred and sixty-five, a loss of
forty-five per cent.
136 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
i86a. A hospital for the Thirteenth was established in a bam
in Keedysville.
The following is from the report of General Ricketts on his
division's work at Antietam :
From Keedysville on the afternoon of the 1 6th, the division crossed the Antie-
tam river and moved toward Sharpsburg, in direction of the enemy's left flank.
Third Brigade [Hartsuff] was formed in line while under fire from the enemy's
artillery; Second Brigade toward the left of the Third, and First Brigade in
reserve. The artillery, though within range, was placed as much under shelter as
possible for the night.
The morning of the 17th your order to advance and occupy the woods in front
was being carried out when General Hartsuff, who was examining the ground,
was severely wounded, and the services of this valuable officer were lost. The
brigade moved forward [under command of Colonel Coulter], supported by Sec-
ond Brigade on the left and First Brigade on the right, all advancing with the
artillery. Battery F, First Pennsylvania, under Captain Matthews, Captain Thomp-
son's Independent Pennsylvania Battery, each consisting of four 3-inch rifled
guns. Taking advantage of the ground both batteries opened with destructive
effect, officers and men displaying great coolness while exposed to a severe fire of
artillery and infantry. The divbion gained the outer edge of the wood and kept
up a fearful fire for four hours, until the ammunition being exhausted and the
supports not coming up, it was compelled to retire to refill boxes, after which the
division joined the rest of the corps on the right, near the turnpike, and with the
exception of a brisk fire from the enemy's artillery, under which they stood, was
not employed again during the day only to hold that position.
In General Hooker's report may be seen the following :
The whole morning had been one of unusual animation to me and firaught with
the grandest events. The conduct of my troops was sublime, and the occasion
almost lifted me to the skies, and its memories wiH ever remain to me. My com-
mand followed the fugitives closely until we had passed the cornfield, a quarter
of a mile or more, when I was removed from my saddle in the act of falling out
of it from the loss of blood.
The following account is from the pen of G. W. Smalley, corre-
spondent of the " New York Tribune " and other papers. He
was near General Hooker during the fight, with excellent opportu-
nities for seeing and knowing all that occurred. The extract we
quote shows how it appeared to him :
The battle began with the dawn. Morning found both armies just as they had
slept, almost close enough to look into each other's eyes. The left of Meade's
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 137
xSea. reserves and the right of Ricketts' line became engaged at nearly
the same moment, one with artillery, the other with infantry. A
battery was almost immediately pushed forward beyond the central woods, over a
ploughed field, near the top of the slope where the cornfield began. On this
open field, in the corn beyond, and in the woods which stretched forward into
the broad fields, like a promontory into the ocean, were the hardest and deadliest
struggles of the day.
For half an hour after the battle had grown to its full strength, the line of fire
extended neither way. Hooker's men were fully up to their work. They saw
their general everywhere in front, never away from the fire; and all the troops
believed in their commander, and fought with a will. Two-thirds of them were
the same men who, under McDowell, had broken at Manassas.
The half-hour passed; the rebels began to give way a little, — only a little;
but at the first indication of a receding fire, " Forward ! " was the word, and on
went the line vrith a rush. Back across the cornfield, leaving dead and wounded
behind them, over the fence, and across the wood, and then back again into the
dark woods, which closed around them, went the retreating rebels.
But out of those gloomy woods came suddenly and heavily terrible volleys —
volleys which smote, and bent, and broke, in a moment, that eager front, and
hurled them swiftly back for half the distance they had won. Not swiftly nor in
panic, any further. Closing up their shattered lines, they came slowly away ; a
regiment where a brigade had been; hardly a brigade where a whole division had
been victorious. They had met at the woods the first volleys of musketry from
fresh troops — had met them and returned them till their line had yielded and
gone down before this weight of fire, and till their ammunition was exhausted.
In ten minutes the fortunes of the day seemed to have changed ; it was the
rebels who were now advancing, pouring out of the woods in endless lines, sweep-
ing through the cornfield from which their comrades had just fled. Hooker sent
in his nearest brigade to meet them, but it could not do the work. He called for
another. There was nothing close enough, unless he took it from his right. His
right might be in danger if it was weakened; but his centre was already threatened
with annihilation. Not hesitating one moment, he sent to Doubleday, " Give me
your best brigade instantly."
The best brigade came down the hill to the right on the run, went through the
timber in front, through a storm of shot and bursting shell, and crashing limbs,
over the open field beyond, and straight into the cornfield, passing, as they went,
the fragment of those brigades shattered by the rebel fire, and streaming to the rear.
They passed by Hooker, whose eyes lighted as he saw these veteran troops led by
a soldier whom he knew he could trust. " I think they will hold it," he said.
General Hartsuff took his troops very steadily, but, now that they were under
fire, not hurriedly, up the hill from which the cornfield begins to descend, and
formed them on the crest. Not a ipan who was not in full view — not one who
bent before the storm. Firing at first in volleys, they fired then at vrill with won-
138 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. derful rapidity and effect. The whole line crowned the hill, and
stood out darkly against the sky, but lighted and shrouded ever in
flame and smoke.
They were the Twelfth and Thirteenth Massachusetts, the Ninth New York, and
the Eleventh Pennsylvania — old troops, all of them.
Then for half an hour they held the ridge, unyielding in purpose, exhaustless in
courage. There were gaps in the line, but it nowhere bent. Their general was
severely wounded early in the fight, but they fought on. Their supports did not
come — they determined without them. They began to go down the hill and into
the com; they did not stop to think that their ammunition was nearly gone; they
were there to win that field, and they won it. The rebel line for the second time
fled through the corn and into the woods. I cannot tell how few of HartsufPs
brigade were left when the work was done. There was no more gallant, deter-
mined, heroic fighting in all this desperate day. General Hartsuff is severely
wounded; but I do not believe he counts his success dearly purchased.
There has been some doubt thrown upon this story because
Hartsuff 's brigade was not in Doubleday's division.
A soldier, when actively engaged in battle, has so little appreciation
of how his actions may appear to a looker-on, that when we read the
" best brigade " story, we felt that, notwithstanding the facts were all
there, they had received a rhetorical coloring which made them seem
different from what they really were.
Alfred C. Munroe, of the Twelfth Massachusetts, who was at
that time attached to General Hooker's headquarters, says he
heard the order given as Smalley relates it. That part of the story,
however, is of little consequence beside the important one of remov-
ing any doubt as to whether Hartsuff's brigade really did such a
service on that memorable day. The following letter by General
Doubleday, published in the " National Tribune " of March 24, 189a,
seems to settle the question so completely that we give it publication :
Editor National Tribune, — A very interesting article appeared in your paper
a few weeks ago in reference to the battle of Antietam. It is in the main
accurate, but contains one error which I desire to correct, and which would seem
to have originated in the correspondent of the New York " Times." After three
liours' fighting, at a crisis in the battle when it became doubtful if we could hold
the bloody cornfield between the lines, Hooker, it is alleged, sent word to
Doubleday, " Send me your best brigade." It stated that this " best brigade "
went forward and held the field, which, however, was lost later in the day.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 139
1862. Now, as my division began the battle in the morning, and was the
first to charge the enemy, I had no brigade to spare, for three of
mine, under Gibbon, Patrick, and Phelps, were already closely engaged at the
front. They had lost heavily, had captured six battle-flags, were out of ammu-
nition, and in obedience of an order from General Hooker were holding the
positioii with the bayonet. 1 had another brigade, it is true, under the gallant
Hoffman, but it was kept in rear by a special order from General Hooker, in con-
sequence of a slight demonstration made by Stuart's cavalry on that flank. It
was Hartsuff's brigade, of Ricketts' division, that held the cornfield so hand-
somely, and not one of mine. Ricketts was entitled, I thought, to a good deal
of credit for the way in which he handled his men ; but through some misrepre-
sentations or misunderstanding he was relieved from command at the close of the
day by General McClellan, and his division was turned over to General Gibbon.
ABNER DOUBLEDAY,
Mend HAM, N. J. Brevet Major- Genera/, U.S.A.
The following official. announcement of the battle of Antietam was
sent to Washington on the 19th of September, it being reasonably
certain, by that time, that the rebel army had recrossed the river into
Virginia :
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Sharpsburg, September 19, 1862.
Maj.-Gen. H. W. Halleck, Commanding U.S. Army ;
I have the honor to report that Maryland is entirely freed from the presence of
the enemy, who have been driven across the Potomac. No fears need now be
entertained for the safety of Pennsylvania. I shall at once occupy Harper's
Ferry.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major- General Commanding.
The rebel army having voluntarily returned to the " sacred soil "
of Virginia, without let or hindrance from our forces, it would seem
that the word "driven" which appears in the dispatch was not an
exact statement of fact, while General McClellan omitted to say
that the opportunity for destroying Lee's army was lost.
The following statement by General McClellan, concerning the
battle of Antietam, we quote from his book :
The spectacle yesterday was the grandest I could conceive of; nothing could be
more sublime. Those in whose judgment I rely, tell me that I fought the battle
splendidly, and that it was a masterpiece of art.
140 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. " ' But what good came of it at last? '
Quoth little Peterkin.
' Why, that I cannot tell,' said he;
' But 'twas a famous victory.' "
With respect to the condition of the rebel army, it is interesting to
read what General Lee says about it in a report he made to Presi-
dent Davis, dated Sept. 21, 1862 :
The army is resting to-day on the Opequan, below Martinsburg. Its present
efficiency is greatly paralyzed by the loss to its ranks of the numerous stragglers.
I have taken every means in my power from the beginning to correct this evil,
which has increased instead of diminished. A great many men belonging to the
army never entered Maryland at all; many returned after getting there, while
others who crossed the river kept aloof.
There is much more in this letter that goes to show how badly off
the enemy felt themselves to be ; but this extract is sufficient to show
that they were glad enough to have the fighting postponed until they
could recuperate.
It is also interesting to read what an Englishman thinks about the
battle of Antietam. In Mr. Archibald Forbes' article on Abraham
Lincoln as a strategist, published in the " North American Review,"
July and August, 1892, is the following:
Though he [McClellan] slill held to him the Army of the Potomac, he had lost
with the nation the mesmerism of his prestige. But fortune favored him. Pope's
regiments turned out so much less demoralized than had been supposed, that
McClellan's work of organization was easier and shorter than could have been
anticipated. He was as assiduous in that work as ever ; as ever, he was slow when
the march with an enemy at the end of it came to be undertaken. Rarely, indeed,
has it been the good fortune of a general, at the beginning of a campaign, to find
himself placed in full knowledge of his adversaries' disposition ; yet the possession
of that enormous advantage could not stir McClellan into prompt alacrity. His
sluggishness cost the loss of the garrison of Harper's Ferry. He threw away in-
valuable time before taking the offensive at South Mountain; and he could have
done Lee no better service than in wasting a whole autumn day in deliberately
putting his army into position for the unscientific, unpurposeful, and butcherly
fighting of the morrow. Not until the 26th of October did McQellan begin to
cross the Potomac. During the interval of more than five weeks he had practi-
cally been immobile, while Lee quietly watched him from Winchester. During
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 141
l86a. that interval he continuously clamored for regnforcements, for re-
equipment of all kinds, for supplies on supplies.
With respect to renewing the attack on the i8th, General McClel-
lan makes the following statement :
After a night of anxious deliberation and a full and careful survey of our army,
the strength and position of the enemy, I conclude that the success of an attack
on the i8th was not certain. I am aware of the fact that, under ordinary circum-
stances, a general is expected to risk a battle if he has a reasonable prospect of
success; but at this critical juncture I should have had a narrow view of the con-
dition of the country had I been willing to hazard another battle with less than
an absolute assurance of success.
In testimony of his own abilities, he further says :
Since the war I have met many of my late antagonists, and have found none
who entertained any personal enmity against me. While acknowledging with
Lee and other of their generals that they feared me more than any of the North-
ern generals and that I had struck them harder blows when in the full prime of
their strength, they have all said that I fought them like a gentleman and in an
honorable way, and that they felt nothing but respect for me.
I remember very well, when riding over the field of South Mountain, that
passing by a severely wounded Confederate officer, I dismounted and spoke with
him, asking whether I could do anything to relieve him. He was a lieutenant-
colonel of a North Carolina regiment, and asked me if I was General McClellan ;
and when I said that I was General McClellan, he grasped my hand and told me
that he was perfectly willing to be wounded and a prisoner for the sake of taking
by the hand one whom all the Confederates so honored and admired. Such things
happened to me not infrequently, and I confess that it gave me no little pleasure
to find that my antagonists shared the feelings of my own men for me.
In the Gospel according to Saint Luke occurs the following para-
graph : " Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you ! for
so did their fathers to the false prophets."
As a contrast to General McClellan's methods of conducting a
battle, it is interesting to read what Stonewall Jackson would have
done had he been in McClellan's position. General Imboden writes
that Jackson often said to him : "
There were two things never to be lost sight of by a military commander:
Always mystify, mislead, and surprise the enemy, if possible; and when you strike
142 TBREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. and overcome him, never let up in the pursuit so long as your men
have strength to follow; for an army routed, if hotly pursued, be-
comes panic-stricken, and can then be destroyed by half their number. The
other rule is, never fight against heavy odds, if by any possible manoeuvring you
can hurl your own force on only a part, and that the weakest part, of your enemy
and crush it. Such tactics will win every time, and a small army may thus destroy
a large one in detail, and repeated victory will make it invincible.
As an additional reason for not following up the advantage gained
on the 17 th, General McClellan says that
The troops were greatly overcome by the fatigue and exhaustion attendant
upon the long-continued and severely contested battle of the 17th, together with
the long day-and-night marches to which they had been subjected during the
previous three days.
To US of the Thirteenth it seemed just possible that the enemy
might be equally tired and a good deal more discomfited, and that
the time had come when we might efface the disagreeable recollec-
tion of Manassas ; and the wonder was why we were not allowed to
follow up our advantage. When men are stimulated by success in
battle they forget everything but pushing their good fortune to a
complete triumph. As it was, we remained in idleness until the
2Sth of October, allowing the enemy to find their way back across
the river at their leisure. There was one man, however, who
appreciated that instinct in human nature which prompts us jjl to
" sail in " when the other fellow weakens, and that was " Old Abe."
Day after day telegrams from Washington were sent to McClellan
asking him to explain his delay, and urging the importance of his
present advantage, until he (General McClellan) was prompted to
return to General Halleck an answer, in which is the following
paragraph :
I regret that you find it necessary to couch every despatch I have the honor to
receive from you in a spirit of fault-finding, and that you have not yet found
leisure to say one word in commendation of recent achievements of the army, or
even to allude to them.
The following interesting order explains itself:
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 143
1862. Headquarters, Defences of Washington,
Washington, Sept. 23, 1862, 10.30 A.M.
Brig.-Gen. S. Williams,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters Army of the Potomac :
Tdegram of last night received this morning. It occurs to me that at least a.
part of the confusion caused by the new numbers of the corps arises from the fact
that you have got them wrong. Siegel's corps is the Eleventh, Banks' is the
Twelfth, and Hooker's (late McDowell's) is the First Corps. This is warranted
correct, the newspapers to the contrary notwithstanding. Consequently, after
some puzzling, I infer from your telegram that Meade commands the First Corps,
vice Hooker, wounded, and A. S. WiUiams commands the Twelfth Corps, vice
Mansfield, killed. Is this right? To whom was Webber's brigade assigned? Is
Couch's division independent? Does Sturgis eommand Reno's division, and
Wilcox, Stevens' ? Piatt's brigade is here, in Whipple's division.
RICHARD B. IRWIN,
Captain, Aide-de-Camp, and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
Whatever confusion may have existed in the minds of others, it
is certain that we were in the second division of the First Corps.
General Ricketts commanded the division and General Meade the
corps.
By an order dated Sept. 29, 1862, General Reynolds assumed
temporary command of the First Corps, and in the same communi-
cation General Meade was ordered to reassume the command of the
third division of the same corps. General Reynolds remained in
command of the First Corps, however, until he lost his life at
Gettysburg.
On the 6th of October General Halleck was instructed by the
President to telegraph General McClellan as follows : "The President
directs'that you cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy or
drive him south." This, however, did not move McClellan.
On the loth of October the rebel general, Stuart, crossed the
Potomac at McCoy's ford, between Williamsport and Hancock,
penetrated as far as Chambersburg, which he occupied for a time,
destroyed public property, made the entire circuit of the Federal
army, and recrossed the Potomac near the mouth of the Monocacy,
without any loss worth mentioning, and to the mortification of the
Union army, which was doing nothing. Both of these fords were
144 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. within the sphere of our duty during the year 1861 and
the first two months of 1862. The following extracts
are taken from his report of the affair t6 General Lee :
Unoffending persons were treated with civility, and the inhabitants were
generous in proffers of provisions on the march. We seized and brought over a
large number of horses, the property of citizens of the United States. The valu-
able information obtained in this reconnoissance, as to the distribution of the
enemy's force, was communicated oraUy to the commanding general, and need
not be here repeated, A number of the public functionaries and prominent
citizens were taken captives, and brought over as hostages for our own unoffend-
ing citizens, whom the enemy has torn from their homes and confined in
dungeons in the North. One or two of my men lost their way, and are probably
in the hands of the enemy.
Believing that the hand of God was clearly manifested in the signal deliverance
of my command from danger, and the crowning success attending it, I ascribe to
Him the praise, the honor, and the glory.
If it was true, as General Stuart asserted, that he was under Divine
protection and guidance, perhaps it was just as well for us that we
didn't interfere with his progress.
We notice in the War Records that the hand of God was not recog-
nized when armies met with defeat.
On the 13th of October the President sent the following letter to
General McClellan, which shows how clearly Mr. Lincoln compre-
hended the possibilities of the situation :
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D.C, Oct. 13, 1862.
Major-General McClellan :
My Dear Sir: You remember my speaking to you of what I called your
overcautiousness. Are you not overcautious when you assume that you cannot do
what the enemy is constantly doing ? Should you not claim to be at least his equal
in prowess, and act upon the claim ? As I understand, you telegraphed General
Halleck that you cannot subsist your army at Winchester, unless the railroad from
Harper's Ferry to that point be put in working order. But the enemy does now
subsist his army at Winchester, at fi distance nearly twice as great from rail-
road transportation as you would have to do, without the railroad last named.
He now wagons from Culpeper Court-House, which is just about twice as far as
you would have to do from Harper's Ferry. He is certainly not more than half
as well provided with wagons as you are. I certainly should be pleased for you
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 145
1862. to have the advantage of the railroad from Harper's Ferry to 'Win-
chester, but it wastes all the remainder of autumn to give it to you,
and, in fact, ignores the question of time, which cannot and must not be ignored.
Again, one of the standard maxims of war, as you know, is to " operate upon the
enemy's communications as much as possible without exposing your own." You
seem to act as if this applies against you, but cannot apply in your favor. Change
positions with the enemy, and think you not he would break your communication
with Richmond within the next twenty-four hours ? You dread his going into
Pennsylvania; but if he does so in full force, he gives up his communications to you
absolutely; and you have nothing to do but to follow and ruin him. If he does so
with less than full force, fall upon and beat what is left behind all the easier.
Exclusive of the water-line, you are now nearer Richmond than the enemy is by the
route that you can and he must take. Why can you not reach there before him,
unless you admit that he is more than your equal on the march ? His route is the
arc of a circle, while yours is the chord. The roads ate as good on yours as on
his. You know I desired, but did not order, you to cross the Potomac below,
instead of above, the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge. My idea was that this would
at once menace the enemy's communications, which I would seize if he would
permit.
If he should move forward I would follow him closely, holding his communi-
cations. If he should prevent our seizing his communications and move toward
Richmond, I would press closely to him, fight him if a favorable opportunity
should present, and at least try to beat him to Richmond on the inside track. I
say "try; " if we never try we shall never succeed. If he makes a. stand at
Winchester, moving neither north nor south, I would fight him there, on the idea
that if we cannot beat him when he bears the wastage of coming to us, we never
can when we bear the wastage of going to him. This proposition is a simple
truth, and is too important to be lost sight of for a moment. In coming to us he
tenders us an advantage which we should not waive. We should not so operate
as to merely drive him away. As we must beat him somewliere or fail finally, we
can do it, if at all, easier near to us than far away. If we cannot beat the enemy
where he now is, we never can, he again being within the intrenchments of
Richmond.
Recurring to the idea of going to Richmond on the inside track, the facility of
supplying from the side away from the enemy is remarkable, as it were, by the
different spokes of a wheel extending from the hub toward the rim, and this,
whether you move directly by the chord or on the inside arc, hugging the Blue
Ridge more closely. The chord-line, as you see, carries you by Aldie, Hay Mar-
ket, and Fredericksburg; and you see how turnpikes, railroads, and finally the
Potomac, by Aquia Creek, meet you at aH points from Washington ; the same,
only the lines lengthened a little, if you press closer to the Blue Ridge part of
the way.
The gaps through the Blue Ridge I understand to be about the following dis-
146 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
i86a. tances from Harper's Fsrry, to wit: Vestal's, 5 miles; Gregory's,
13; Snicker's, 18; Ashby's, 28; Manassas, 38; Chester, 45 ; and
Thornton's, 53. I should think it preferable to take the route nearest the enemy,
disabling him to make an important move without your knowledge, and compell-
ing him to keep his forces together for dread of you. The gaps would enable
you to attack if you should wish. For a great part of the way you would be
practicably between the enemy and both Washington and Richmond, enabling us
to spare you the greatest number of troops from here. When at length running
for Richmond ahead of him enables him to move this way, if he does so, turn
and attack him in the rear. But I think he should be engaged long before such
point is reached. It is all easy if our troops march as well as the enemy, and it
is unmanly to say we cannot do it. This letter is in no sense an order.
Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.
A prominent public man who knew McClellan as an engineer,
before the war, once remarked that if he had a million of men it
would take a million of years for him voluntarily to move, which
number is probably an exaggeration by several years.
The following communications of General Lee, giving his inter-
pretation of the batrie of Antietam, are interesting reading :
Headquarters, Sharpsburg, Md.,
Sept. 18, 1862, 6.30 A.M.
Mr. President: On the afternoon of the i6th instant the enemy, who you
were informed that day was in our front, opened a light fire of artillery upon our
line. Early the next morning it was renewed in earnest, and large masses of the
Federal troops that had crossed the Antietam above our position assembled on
our left and threatened to overwhelm us. . . .
In the afternoon the enemy advanced on our right, where General Jones' divi-
sion was posted, who handsomely maintained his position. General Toombs'
brigade, guarding the bridge over Antietam Creek, gallantly resisted the approach
of the enemy; but his superior numbers enabling him to extend his left, he
crossed below the bridge, and assumed a threatening attitude on our right, which
fell back in confusion. By this time, between 3 and 4 P.M., General Hill, with
five of his brigades, reached the scene of action, drove the enemy immediately
from the position they had taken, and continued the contest until dark, restoring
our right and maintaining our ground. . , .
R. E. LEE,
General Commanding,
His Excellency President Davis, Richmond, Va.
TEIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 147
1862. Headquarters, Army of Northern Virginia,
Sept. 20, 1862.
Sir: Since my last letter to you of the 18th, finding the enemy indisposed to
make an attack on that day, and our position being a bad one to hold with the
river in the rear, I determined to cross the army to the Virginia side. This was
done at night successfully, nothing being left behind, unless it may have been
some disabled guns or broken-down wagons, and the morning of the 19th found
us satisfactorily over on the south bank of the Potomac, near Shepherdstown, when
the army was immediately put in motion toward Williamsport. Before crossing
the river, in order to threaten the enemy on his right and rear and make him
apprehensive for his communications, I sent the cavalry forward to Williamsport,
which they successfully occupied. At night the infantry sharpshooters left in
conjunction with General Pendleton's artillery, to hold the ford below Shepherds-
town, gave back, and the enemy's cavalry took possession of that town, and, from
General Pendleton's report after midnight, I fear much of his reserve artillery has
been captured. I am now obliged to return to Shepherdstown with the intention
of driving the enemy back, if not in position with his whole army; but if in full
force, I think an attack would be inadvisable, and I shall make other dispositions.
I am, with high respect, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
His Excellency Jefferson Davis, Richmond, Va.
On the 8th of October Brig.-Gen. Nelson Taylor took command
of HartsuflF's brigade, and he produced a favorable impression. His
assignment was dated September i8th.
General Hartsuflf was dangerously wounded at the battle of An-
tietam, and before his recovery was promoted to major-general of
volunteers for gallant and meritorious conduct.
We were sorry to part with General Hartsuff, to whom we had be-
come warmly attached. He was a graduate from West Point in the
Class of 1852. When he took command of our brigade he was in
the thirty-second year of his age, tall and commanding in appear-
ance, with a fine soldierly presence. He soon learned that we
needed training, and the cords were at once tightened, and no excuse
for breach of discipline was accepted. Little by little the men real-
ized that while he required prompt obedience, he was watchful of
the comfort and health of his men, and before a month had elapsed
we began to feel a pride in the new order of things. As week fol-
lowed week our attachment strengthened, until he became the idol of
148 THREE YEAB8 IN THE ARMT.
1862. his brigade. He succeeded in establishing so high a
degree of discipline that the brigade received the en-
thusiastic praise of General Hooker. On the night of the battle of
Cedar Mountain, on a knoll exposed to the enemy's fire, he was a
conspicuous figure in the moonlight, in plain sight of his brigade, an
example to every man of the bravery that becomes a soldier. By
his coolness on that night he inspired in his men a self-reliance that
was of great service to them in the scenes that followed. There
was no general officer under whom we served that excited in us so
deep an affection as that which we felt for Gen. Geo. L. Hartsuff.
« "'*■.
^'<i:'^i
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 149
CHAPTER VIII.
i86a. We were in camp near Sharpsburg, where opportunity
Until ^jjg afforded us of renewing an acquaintance with the
October 26. , ^ , , . .
people of that town, whom we met m August, 1861.
Visits were made to the battlefield and to the Dunkards'
church, in the vicinity of which had occurred such terrible fighting.
The ludicrous instincts of the army were excited by the suggestive-
ness of the name, and it was christened by some wag " Drunkards'
church ; " and it became so fastened upon the Society, which was very
little known to the world, that it was deemed necessary to correct the
error by an article published in one of the magazines some years
after the war, protesting against a continuance of the outrage.
The denomination of Dunkers, or Dunkards as it was originally
called, is of German origin. They came to this country in 1719,
and settled in Pennsylvania. In the beginning they were a simple
peasant people, exclusive in thought and habits of life, interpreting
the Bible literally, endeavoring to find in it directions for every act.
Though the rule of their church was an eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth, and a horse for a horse, the Society of the Dunkards was noted
for the honesty and integrity of its members. All the fashions and
follies of the world were deliberately shut out from their lives, while
they erected every possible barrier against its influences and the
advancing spirit of the age. In spite of all their efforts to the con-
trary, they began almost insensibly to relax their discipline by the
modification of some of their practices. They found that innovations
had come among them in the form of day-schools, Sunday-schools,
the use of musical instruments, and a gradual departure from the
severe plainness of dress which they formerly considered essential,
and in the mode of wearing the hair and beard. This tendency
naturally met with opposition by the older members, resulting some
years ago in a division of the Society.
160 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. Dr. Letterman, Medical Director of the Army of the
Potomac, in his report to General McClellan, makes the
following interesting statement :
The surgery of these battlefields has been pronounced butchery. Gross mis-
representations of the conduct of medical officers have been made and scattered
broadcast over the country, causing deep and heart-rending anxiety to those who
had friends or relatives in the army, who might at any moment require the service
of a surgeon. It is not to be supposed that there were no incompetent surgeons
in the army. It is certainly true that there were; but these sweeping denun-
ciations against a class of men who will favorably compare with the military
surgeons of any country, because of the incompetency of and shortcomings of a
few, are wrong, and do injustice to a body of men who have labored faithfully and
well. It is easy to magnify an existing evil until it is beyond the bounds of truth.
It is equally easy to pass by the good that has been done on the other side.
Some medical officers lost their lives in their devotion to duty in the battle of
Antietam, and others sickened from excessive labor which they conscientiously
and skilfully performed. If any objection could be urged against the surgery of
those fields, it would be the efforts on the part of surgeons to practise conservative
surgery to too great extent.
I had better opportunities, perhaps, than any one else to form an opinion, and
from my observations I am convinced that if any fault was committed it was that
the knife was not used enough. So much has been said on this matter, that,
familiar as I am with the conduct of the medical ofKcers on those battlefields, I
cannot, as the medical director of this army, see them misrepresented and be silent.
We are glad to give this publication, because we believe it is true,
and the more willingly, for the opportunity offered of expressing our
high appreciation of our own surgeons, whose services in our behalf
deserve recognition. They were not only men of skill in their pro-
fession, but were courageous in battle, and kind and attentive to men
needing their services. In this respect we were fortunate.
We cannot forbear mentioning the generosity shown by the people
of the surrounding towns, who came on to the field the day following
the battle, with food and supplies from their homes, not only for the
wounded, but for the men who had escaped that misfortune. The
people from Middletown, Sharpsburg, Hagerstown, and even Han-
cock, forty miles away, were inquiring for the Thirteenth Massachu-
setts Regiment. Hancock sent a four-horse team loaded with food
and delicacies for the wounded. The greatest pleasure of all was to
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 151
i862. see the faces of our friends of the previous winter, and
to feel that our service among them had left no un-
pleasant impression.
Guard-mounting, inspection, drilling, and reviews- took up most
•of our time. When not so occupied, we were sleeping, cooking, or
swapping stories round the camp-fire. As every man did his own
cooking, he could devote as much of his spare hours as he wished in
the preparation of choice dishes for the gratification of his palate.
Some of the boys showed great skill, and in concocting a dish of
" braxy-hash " could make Delmonico turn green with envy.
The morning report of the Army of the Potomac on September 30
showed present and absent, including Banks' command in Wash-
ington, 303,959. Of this number, 100,000 were reported ab-
sent, 28,000 on special duty, and 73,000 present for duty under
Banks; leaving about 100,000 present for duty in McClellan's
immediate command.
The discrepancy that occurred between the number of
Saturday, troops sent to reeuforce the Army of the Potomac, and
October 25. the number reported to have arrived, so annoyed the
President, that he one day remarked, according to his
biographers, that " sending men to that army was like shovelling fleas
across a barnyard : not more than half of them got there."
At last the patience of Mr. Lincoln was exhausted at the intermi-
nable excuses given in explanation of McClellan's delay, and he sent
the following despatch, dated at Washington, October 25, 4.50 P.M. :
To Major-General McClellan:
I have just received your despatch about sore-tongued and fatigued horses. Will
you pardon me for asking what the horses of your army have done since the battle
of Antietam that fatigues anything?
A. LINCOLN.
After which the army moved.
All day yesterday and to-day it rained as though the
Sunday, spigot had been pulled out of the clouds ; a shelter tent
October a6. was about as much protection as a sieve. Notwithstand-
ing the rain, at 4 P.M. we broke camp and marched
through Sharpsburg across the bridge toward Keedysville, and then
152 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
i862. to the right up the mountain, where we camped for the
night, near the crest.
We were glad to move, even on Sunday, if it would only shorten
the war.
Monday ^* ^ ^■^' ^^ continued our march through Cramptdn's
October a?. Pass to Burkettsville, where we camped.
Got away by 9 o'clock in the morning and marched to
Tuesday, Berlin, about six miles, and camped. This place is very
October 28. little like its namesake, the capital of Germany. The
view as we marched down the mountain was superb.
Remained at Berlin all day yesterday and until the
Thursday, afternoon of to-day, when we marched about seven miles,
October 30. and camped near Waterford, crossing the Potomac on a
pontoon bridge. We remained at this place until the
31st, allowing the officers an opportunity to attend to that most
agreeable of all duties, — making out the pay-rolls. The rank and
file were always pleased when the officers were too busy for drilling.
Started at 9 A.M. and marched seven miles to Purcell-
Saturday, yille. We liked these short marches, particularly as the
Nov. I. weather was pleasant and the temperature low.
A little after midnight three of the boys, regardless of the eighth
commandment, started out on a foraging expedition, having pre-
viously made arrangements with the picket-guard to let them through
the line. Stumbling across fields, floundering through ditches,
scrambling over stone walls, they finally reached a farm-house. All
was quiet. The occupants, preoccupied in dreamy slumber, little
suspected that beneath their windows a gang of Yankee soldiers were
inspecting their premises for rebel chickens. As it was very dark,
each of the out-buildings was examined before the right one was
found. Having selected what could be easily carried, they prepared
to return, when a loud screech from a half-choked hen broke the still-
ness of the midnight air, rousing the people in the house firom pleas-
ant dreams to an agonizing reality that the hens they had nursed
from tender chickenhood to old age were being conveyed to that
pot from whose bourne no hen returns. A voice from one of the
windows was heard in unmistakable accents of alarm, calling upon
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 153
1862. them to stop. Any other time but this the boys would
have been glad to do so ; but when duty calls, they must
obey. They succeeded in reaching camp without their absence
being discovered. In the morning one of the party, having some
duty to perform, intrusted his plunder to a comrade whose knowl-
edge of the art of cooking was superior to his own, and in whose
fidelity he placed great confidence, to be cooked for dinner. Re-
turning an hour or two later he found himself the victim of misplaced
confidence, as the cook had devoured all but the legs. Having been
remonstrated with for this exhibition of selfish eagerness, the cook
replied, " Those who dine with me must be on time."
During the day some of Bumside's troops passed us,
un ay, among whom were Hawkins' Zouaves. Did they know
it was Sunday? The weather was pleasant, but too cool
for shelter tents. About midnight we were turned out
and formed in line, wagons loaded, and other preparations made to
march, though we didn't move. We should have been quite as well
satisfied if we had been allowed to sleep. Firing heard all day in
the distance.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Camp near Berlin, Md., Nov. 2, 1862.
III. Brig.-Gen. J. B. Ricketts is relieved from the command of the Second
Division of the First Army Corps. He will proceed to Harper's Ferry, and there
await further orders.
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General,
About I P.M. we started on a march to Bloomfield,
on ay, which we reached after a round-about tramp of ten
Nov. 3.
miles. On the way we crossed the Aldie Pike, on which
we paced off so many weary miles in March last. We
followed the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Yesterday we marched about five miles from Bloom-
Wednesday.g^j^ and to-day five miles on the road to Rectortown,
Nov. 5.
camping near Middleburg. The road was greatly ob-
structed by wagons.
Friday, Yesterday we marched fourteen miles towards War-
°^' '■ renton. To-day we continued the march eleven miles.
154 TBBEE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. camping near Warrenton, it being the third time we had
camped near this town. The nights were cold, and the
men on guard suffered very much in consequence. We had a heavy
snow-storm to-day.
At 4.30 P.M. we started for Rappahannock Statipn,
Saturday, ^^^ ^ ^.j^^ j^^^^^ ^^ ^j^^ Column took the wrong road we
Nov. 8. . . , , . , . ,
had to retrace our steps, by which action we were on the
road until after midnight, having marched sixteen miles,
while ten miles was all that was necessary. Though the chaplain re-
turned to the regiment two days ago, the fluency of our remarks was
in no way obstructed by his presence. " The sheep will stray when
the shepherd is gone " is an old but trite saying, hence the habit of
profanity which possessed some of the boys.
Snowed hard to-day. At 6 A.M. we were ordered to
un ay, „ ^^^ .^^„ ^jjgjgypgjj y,^ stood in line, sleepy, tired, and
disgusted, in readiness to support the cavalry which
made a dash across the Rappahannock River. At 8 A.M.
we marched to the river to cover a bridge and ford, after which we
were sent out on picket duty for twenty-four hours. Company K being
left to guard the ford. As the river at this point was only twenty feet
wide, conversation by the enemy was plainly heard during the night.
Our brigade was temporarily detached from the corps (First),
which was encamped near Warrenton. This was the same spot
where we camped on our retreat from Culpeper.
The order removing General McClellan was officially
Tuesday, announced to-day, but it made no ripple in our affairs.
Nov. n. We were not affected by so overpowering a love for him
as to shed tears, though it is possible that " thousands,"
as he says, may have found it necessary to relieve their overcharged
feelings by flushing out the sluiceways of their optics.
On page 652 of "McClellan's Own Story" may be found these
words :
The order depriving me of the command created an immense deal of deep
feeling in the army — so much so that many were in favor of my refusing to obey
the order, and of marching upon Washington to take possession of the govern-
ment. My chief purpose in remaining with the army as long as I did after being
relieved was to calm this feeling, in which I succeeded.
THIRTEENTB MASS. VOLS. 155
1862. That he believed such nonsense seems incredible, yet
it is his own statement, twenty years after the event. In
speaking of the scenes attending his farewell to the army he says :
They are beyond my power of description. What words, in truth, could con-
vey to the mind such a scene — thousands of brave men, who, under my very eye,
had changed from raw recruits to veterans of many fields, shedding tears like
children in their ranks, as they bade good-by to the general who had just led them
to victory after the defeats they had seen under another leader.
Whatever may be said' as to the loyalty, intelligence, or bravery of
the Array of the Potomac, applies with equal force to every other
army in the field ; but its service was a peculiar and a trying one. Its
position with respect to the two capitols excited at Washington an
interest in its movements that subjected it to trials and disappoint-
ments such as no other army was called upon to endure. It was the
shuttlecock of political advisers who were ever in fear of the safety
of that city. Success was generally followed by an order to retreat,
or " retrograding " as it was commonly called in the army. It fre-
quently suffered from incompetent generals, and its movements being
special objects of attention, the plans of its commanders were
consequently more often interfered with than those of other armies,
while " On to Richmond," and " All quiet on the Potomac," became
by- words of reproach ; but General McClellan was the only man who
ever accused it of possessing sentiments of disloyalty.
If it is true that such a proposition was made to him, it was
because the soil was thought to be ready for the seed. The impres-
sion of his friends must have been correct, inasmuch as he felt none
of the indignation that a loyal man would have felt at such an insult-
ing proposal.
McClellan says in his Memoirs :
They brought with them the order relieving me of the command of the Army of
the Potomac, and assigning Burnside to the command. No cause is given. I am
ordered to turn over the command immediately and repair to Trenton, N.J., and
on my arrival there to report by telegraph for further orders. ... Of course
I was much surprised; but as I read the order in the presence of General
Buckingham, I am sure that not the slightest expression of feeling was visible on
my face, which he watched closely. . . . They have made a great mistake.
Alas for my poor country !
156 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. A good many people have been puzzled to account for
McClellan's popularity with the army. It is just as diffi-
cult to understand why sheep follow sheep to destruction, or ducks
are decoyed on to a pond by a wooden likeness of themselves, — lack
of reasoning power. Astute politicians know how easy it is by the
use of a little method to excite in the public mind an admiration
for any individual they may seek to elevate. The history of every
country is foil of such examples.
It was a shrewd remark that an old German writer once made
when he said that if he could be allowed to write the songs of the
people, he cared not who made the laws. Any one who has observed
the e£fect of music on the average mind must have noticed how
easily enthusiasm is awakened by its influence. For months we had
been singing the chorus —
"For McQellan's our leader, he is gallant and strong.
For God and our country we are marching along,"
until our imaginations took such flight that we thought him the
greatest of all generals and the only man who could lead us to
victory. The music of this song was easily caught by the ear, and
timed very well with our marching. Day after day it would be sung
with a fervor that reminded one of the religious enthusiasm of Crom-
well's heroes, who sandwiched their fighting with songs of praise to
God. Under this influence and the paneg)rrics showered upon him
by friendly newspapers it is not to be wondered at that the army
greeted him with loud demonstrations of enthusiasm. Round the
camp-fires at night the greatest admiration would be expressed in his
behalf, though frequently an enthusiast would be interrupted by the
"why" and the "wherefore" of some unimpressionable fellow-
soldier who chaffed the rest of us for losing our heads. These argu-
ments were sometimes pretty warm, and it would often happen at
such times that the old refrain,
"For McClellan's our leader, he is gallant and strong,"
would be started; against which it was impossible for reason to
make any headway. There was one custom of McClellan's, however.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 157
i86a. that did more in the Thirteenth to turn the current of our
enthusiasm than all the arguments that were offered in
camp or on the march. Instead of taking position at the head of his
army when it moved in the morning, as was ordinarily the custom with
other generals, he waited until it was all in line on the road, and then
would ride along, preceded by an officer (presumably one of his
staff) shouting, " McClellan 's coming boys ! McClellan 's coming !
three cheers for McClellan ! " whereupon we would join in the con-
tinuous chorus of applause that greeted him as he passed to the head
of the column. This was all very well for once or twice, or even more ;
but when it was found to be a regular thing, it was too much like clap-
trap and humbug to suit our fancy. Our enlistment in the army was
attended by the sacrifice of almost everything but our independence
of thought, and to this we still clung with a good deal of tenacity.
We felt that our enthusiasm, like the hand of Douglas, was still
our own. This method of manufacturing enthusiasm was pretty
thoroughly discussed among ourselves, and was often a subject of
conversation with the men of other regiments, until we were pretty
generally of the opinion that the enthusiasm for McClellan was more
for what he was expected to do than for anything he had done.
The Twelfth Massachusetts was transferred to the
Saturday, second (Tower's) brigade, but continued in the same
Nov. 15. division with us. A division, at this time, contained a
less number of men than did a brigade, three months
back. We were glad the change didn't mean a separation.
There were added to our brigade the Sixteenth Maine, the Eighty-
eighth Pennsylvania, and the Ninety-seventh New York regiments.
We had now been at Rappahannock Station since the
Tuesday, loth. About s o'clock in the afternoon, having packed
Nov. 18. our trunks and valises, strapped our umbrellas and canes,
— those who had them, — shouldered our tents and our
guns, we marched seven miles over a very muddy road that the
pitchy darkness of the night failed to improve, and then camped in
a briar patch, like " Brer Rabbit."
Last night while the regiment was on picket, a seedy-looking
specimen of the " Southern chivalry " approached the bridge, waving
158 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. a handkerchief to attract attention. On receiving a
promise from the guard that he would not be held as a
prisoner he came into our lines. He introduced himself as a first
sergeant in the Third North Carolina cavalry, stating that he was a
native of New Hampshire, had lived in Lowell, and was a graduate of
Harvard College, also, that he had many relatives in the North,
though his immediate family resided in Raleigh, N.C., where he was
pressed into service. Having learned that he believed in the good
old doctrine of " Down with rum," he was given two drinks of whiskey
and a cup of coffee, all of which he put down as became a man whose
principles were of the steadfast brand. Having carried on a pleasant
conversation with him for some time, he was given a quantity of coffee
and allowed to return and serve out his term of impressment, what-
ever that might be, as he showed no inclination to change masters.
He said his name was "Tuck," and that he had studied law with
Colonel Marston, of the Second New Hampshire regiment. When
the war broke out he was publishing a newspaper in North Carolina,
and was allowed the choice of going to jail or enlisting in the rebel
service, and he cHose the latter. Whether his statements were true
or not, he appeared to be a well-informed and intelligent man.
Resumed our march towards Fredericksburg in the
Wednesday, rain and mud, until we had paced off eleven miles. On
Nov. 19. jjjg ^jy ^g overtook our regimental wagons, which
started ahead of us night before last.
The amount of muscular energy required to lift your feet with ten
pounds or more of mud clinging to each foot, can hardly be appre-
ciated except by persons who have a knowledge of the "sacred
soil " of Virginia.
We had a friendly dispute with the Ninth New York about pre-
cedence on the march to-day. We were fortunate in having it
decided in our favor. It often makes considerable difference in the
comfort of a regiment whether it is ahead or not.
„^ „ We left our camp, near Morrisville, at 7 A.M., in the
Thursday, • r,-. j t, , - .
Nov. ao. ' '"• ihe roads were so impassable, by reason of the
mud, that we were obliged to take to the woods in order
to make any headway. We went into camp at Stafford Court House
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 159
i86z. about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Although the distance
was only ten miles, if made direct, it was a good deal
more by the roundabout way we were obliged to march. We were
completely tired out, and disgusted with the rain and mud.
Laid, in camp all day. The rain held up long enough
Friday, for the boys to partially dry their blankets, when it began
Nov. ai. again. Nature is sometimes too bountiful in its supply
of water. The days and nights were so cold that it was
impossible to stay in a " shelter " more than an hour or two without
getting up and stealing a little of the warmth from the fires which
were kept burning all night.
The condition of the roads was such that the supply trains
reached us with great difificulty, and in consequence there was a
scarcity of rations.
We received from six to eight hardtack, a junk of fresh meat or
salt pork, which we cooked in our dippers, and an allowance of
coffee and sugar. Usually three days' supply was given out at a
time. This was taken, by the provident ones, and parcelled into
three portions, one for each day. Those who omitted to do so were
often obliged to beg or go hungry on the third day. One of the
boys was offered a check on the sutler for one dollar, for ten hard-
tack, but as he had only six the negotiation fell through. Officers
were on the same footing yvith the men in the matter of food. A
man had to be mighty careflil where he left his haversack, as an
empty stomach has no conscience.
At 8 A.M. we left Stafford Court House and started for
Sunday, Aquia Creek, but, as had happened before, the brigade
Nov. 23. took the wrong road, which error was not discovered
until we had marched two miles out of the way, where-
upon we were obliged to return, having increased our distance by
this piece of stupidity four miles. We reached a camping-ground
near Brooks' Station about 4 o'clock.
Thanksgiving day! "For what?" was asked. We
Thursday, were reviewed by General Gibbon. Some of the boys
Nov. 27. ^ygj.g already at work making themselves comfortable by
building huts.
160 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. The newspapers which we received from home were
demanding that there be " no more dilly-dallying with
the rebels." The time to have published this was just after
Antietam, not when the army needed snow-shoes to walk through
the mud.
The sutler arrived. This was the first time we had
Saturday, seen him since October. " Glory to God in the highest
Nov. 29. a.nd on earth peace, good will toward men," was a remark
we heard when news of his arrival was received.
Changed our camp half a mile in the direction of Fal-
Wednesday, mouth, to an opening in a pine grove. Yesterday we
Dec. 3. came over and cleared the place of the stumps and
debris. A more uninviting place than this appeared to
be could hardly have been found when our eyes first saw the spot,
but the whole regiment of three hundred men were set to work lay-
ing out streets, so that before we left it presented an attractive ap-
pearance, and was well sheltered from the wind.
A large supply of clothing and shoes arrived in camp,
Thursday, bringing with them comfort and joy. The boys were
Dec. 4. busy building huts and making themselves as comfort-
able as possible, in anticipation of winter quarters.
Boxes arrived from home. These remembrances from
Saturday, kind friends were shipped, by mistake, to Newburne,
Dec. 6. N.C., and from there to our present location. In conse-
quence of this long voyage, the contents in many of the
boxes were completely spoiled. After weeks of joyful anticipation
you lug your box down to the hut to be opened and shared with your
messmates. " Run to the sutler's, Jim, and get a hammer ! " — " Oh,
take a bayonet!" — "Look out, man, you'll spoil that bayonet!"
" D n the thing, we can get another ! " were some of the remarks
that were overheard. At last the cover was off and the contents ex-
posed to view — ruined by the voyage. Think of the disappoint-
ment, and say the angels have no cause to weep. Certainly the
angels at home would have wept had they known the result, after all
their thoughtfulness.
On top of this disappointment came the information that we must
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 161
i86a. prepare to march. As it snowed and rained yesterday,
the roads were in no condition to move an army — ioo
slippery, we thought.
About one thousand dollars' worth of goods collected by the chap-
lain while in Massachusetts were distributed among us. Among the
things were drawers, gloves, stockings, and handkerchiefs. Hand-
kerchiefs ! It takes a woman to put the finishing touch to a gift.
A man would never have thought of that convenience.
For the last three days the wind blew a gale, and was
Monday so cold that it was difficult to be comfortable, even near
Dec. 8. j.jjg fjresj which were kept going in the company streets
night and day, and where the smoke blew in every direc-
tion. One of the boys, who, in spite of hardships, still retained that
irresistible desire for punning which occasionally haunts the human
breast, remarked that he never knew before what was meant by a
" shiver de freeze," and yet he lived until he was killed at Gettysburg.
Marched at 8 A.M. across Potomac Creek, about three
Tuesday, miles. As the ground was frozen hard, the travelling
Dec. g. was good. This was so much preferable to mud, that
no complaints were heard, though our "winter quarters"
scheme was completely "busted."
At 7 A.M. we broke camp and marched three or four
Wednesday, miles to a point near the Fitzhugh place, not far from
Dec. 10. where we were on the 1 7th of May last. Sixty rounds
of cartridges were given to each man for distribution
among the "rebs." It was hoped that none would be wasted.
We were 'roused at 3 A.M., before "Aurora showed
Thursday, her brightening face," as the poet says, and proceeded at
Dec. II. once with preparations for breakfast. At 4 o'clock we
started over the crackling snow for the Rappahannock
River, which we expected to cross upon our arrival ; but the comple-
tion of the pontoon bridge was delayed by rebel sharpshooters until
night, so we bivouacked in the woods near by. Heavy cannonading
was heard up the river at the town of Fredericksburg all day, excit-
ing the curiosity of some of the boys who went up there to see the
fun, and perhaps give a little advice to General Burnside.
162 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. The mist still clung to the river and the lowlands as
Friday, jjjg ^rmy began to cross the stream. Our brigade was
Dec. 12. among the first to go over, and upon reaching the opposite
bank halted for further orders. As the mist rolled away
and the sun made its appearance, it was a magnificent sight to watch
the troops, many of them in new uniforms, marching from all direc-
tions toward and across the bridge and then double-quick up the
opposite bank.
In crossing a pontoon bridge men are cautioned not to keep step.
A pontoon bridge is not a very substantial structure, therefore any
regularity of step would tend to sway it from its moorings.
We then marched along the bank of the river in an easterly
direction about half a mile, and halted ; whereupon the colonel was
asked by General Gibbon if he could deploy his whole regiment as
skirmishers at once, and being promptly answered that he could, he
was directed to do so. The ground in front of us was a flat un-
obstructed plain of considerable extent, where every man of the
regiment could be seen as he deployed. On our right was a
Vermont regiment and on our left a Pennsylvania regiment, also de-
ployed as skirmishers. These three regiments constituted the
skirmish line of the Left Grand Division, and it advanced firing at
will and slowly driving back the rebel skirmishers toward their main
body. After dark we arrived at the Bowling Green road, which,
being a sunken road, afforded us protection from the enemy's fire.
Here we remained all night as a picket guard for the First Corps.
The regiment was divided into three reliefs, each of which was sent
out in turn some distance beyond the road and within talking dis-
tance of the rebel pickets.
During the night the enemy set fire to some buildings near by,
illuminating a considerable extent of country, while hundreds of men
of both armies swarmed to the fences to watch and enjoy the sight.
All night long we could plainly hear the sound of axes in the
enemy's camp, which we subsequently learned were being used in the
preparation of obstructions against our advance in the morning.
While we were deployed as skirmishers a captain of one of the
companies observed a man who, up to this time, had always failed
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 163
1862. to be present on any important occasion, endeavoring to
escape to the rear, when he called out in a loud voice,
" C , get into your place, and if you see a ' reb,' shoot him 1 "
— "Shall I shoot rig/if at him?" whined C . A few minutes
later he disappeared and was not seen again until the " surgeon's call "
was established in camp, some days later. An incident happened
shortly after our skirmish line returned to the Bowling Green road that
afforded us a good deal of amusement. The boys had just started
fires for coffee when a young officer, whose new uniform suggested
recent appointment, approached and with arbitrary voice ordered the
fires to be put out, at which the colonel exhibited an asperity of
temper that surprised us, who had never seen him except with a per-
fectly calm demeanor. Our experience on the picket line had taught
us how to build fires without attracting the attention of the enemy,
and we liked it not that a young fledgling should interfere with our
plans for hot coffee. . The colonel's remarks were quite sufficient for
our guidance, so we had our fires and our coffee too, while the officer
went off about his business.
Another incident occurred to add interest to the occasion. Our
pickets, as already stated, were so near to those of the enemy that
conversation was easily carried on. One of the rebel pickets was
invited to come over and make a call, though the invitation may
have appeared to him very much like the spider to the fly. After
some hesitation and the promise that he would be allowed to return
he dropped his gun and came into our line and was escorted to one
of the fires, where he was cordially entertained with coffee and
hardtack, probably to his great delight, inasmuch as coffee and hard-
tack were not so abundant in the South as to allow a distribution of it
as an army ration. " If thine enemy hunger, feed him ; overcome him
with good." Fill him with lead, good lead, was what we tried to
do most of the time. After he had enjoyed our hospitality as long as
he dared, he returned. On the following day, while we were halted
at the Bernard house, who should be brought in a prisoner but this
same man, who was greeted with shouts of welcome and friendly
shakings of the hand. Some years after, one of the regiment, while
travelling in Ohio, became acquainted with a man tarrying at the
164 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. same hotel. After supper the two sat down to talk, and
very soon the conversation drifted to the war, when it was
discovered that each had served in the army, though on opposite
sides. The Southerner, learning that his new-found acquaintance was
a member of the Thirteenth, remarked that it was a rather singular
coincidence, for " I was entertained by that regiment once at Fred-
ericksburg, and a right smart lot of fellows they were ; " and then he
told what has been, in substance, related here. As our comrade
was present at that battle, and a member of the company that did
the entertaining, he was perfectly familiar with the facts, whereupon
mutual expressions of pleasure followed and an adjournment for
"cold tea."
About 9 o'clock in the forenoon we were again de-
Saturday, ployed as skirmishers, and ordered to advance over the
Dec. 13. fence into the damp clayey soil of the ploughed ground
beyond, the enemy firing and slowly retreating.
" If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white,
Remember it's ruin to run from a fight;
So take open order, lie down, and sit tight.
An' wait for supports like a soldier.
Wait, wait, wait like a soldier."
Our batteries were speedily brought into position, and began shell-
ing the woods, while the enemy's guns, in turn, opened upon us.
We were between two fires, and the greatest caution was necessary to
prevent a needless loss of life. Very soon we were ordered to lie
down as close as possible to the earth in the soft clay, rolling over on
our backs to load our guns. We were now engaged in the very
important service of preventing the enemy from picking off the men
of Hall's Second Maine Battery, then engaged in shelling the enemy,
from a position slightly elevated in our rear. In order that this
battery might do as effective work as possible, it was ordered to point
its guns so as to clear us by one foot. This was a terrible position to
be in. An earnest protest was sent back to Captain Hall, asking him
to elevate his pieces, or every man of us would be killed. Suddenly
a shell or solid shot from this battery struck the cartridge-box of one
of the boys while he laid on his stomach. Some of our number
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 165
i86a. crawled out to where he lay and dragged him in. He
lived about six days, having been injured in the hip.
It was bad enough to be killed or wounded by the enemy, but to
be killed by our own guns excited a great deal of righteous in-
dignation.
About one o'clock a general advance was ordered. Those on the
left moved first, then came our brigade. As skirmishers, we ad-
vanced in front of our division until the firing became so rapid that
we were not only of no advantage, but interfered with the firing of
our troops, so we were ordered to lie close to the ground while our
troops passed over us. Toward night we were withdrawn to the
Bernard house, which had been turned into a hospital, and re-
plenished our empty boxes with ammunition.
Our losses were three men killed, one officer and twelve men
wounded, making a total of sixteen.
As we were withdrawn from the skirmish line to the rear our ap-
pearance excited a good deal of mirth among the old soldiers, who
knew too well what rolling round in the mud meant, for we were
literally covered with the clayey soil that stuck to our clothing like
glue. We had had a pretty hard time of it, as after each time we
fired, we turned over on our backs to reload our guns. Hours of
this work had told on our appearance as well as our tempers, so that
when some of the men of a new regiment asked us why we didn't
stand up like men and fight, instead of lying down, we felt very
much like continuing the fight in our own lines, to relieve the irri-
tation we were suffering.
To be thrown out as skirmishers in front of a line of battle, the
observed of all observers, seems more dangerous than when touching
elbows with your comrades in close order, but as a matter of fact
it is not generally attended with so great loss. It is a duty requiring,
when well done, nerve and coolness on the part of both officers and
men. You are at liberty to protect yourself by any means that may
be afforded, such as inequalities of the ground, a bush, a tree, a
stump, or anything else that you may run across as you advance.
The fire which you receive is usually from the enemy's skirmishers,
and is less effective than when directed toward an unbroken line.
166 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. You are supposed to load, fire, and advance with as near
perfect coolness and order as you can command, because
on that depends the amount of execution you are able to perform.
It is no place for skulkers, as every man is in plain sight, where his
every movement is watched with the closest scrutiny. As soon as
the skirmish line of the enemy is driven back, the main line advances,
and very soon the battle begins in earnest; whereupon the skir-
mishers form in close order and advance with the rest of the line,
except in cases, like the one just related, when it was necessary to
replenish the boxes with ammunition.
We had acquired a good deal of proficiency by constant drilling
for many months in this particular branch of the tactics, long before
we were called upon to put our knowledge into practice. We
growled a good deal at the colonel in the early days of our service
for his persistence, but we had already realized how valuable a lesson
he had taught us. There were occasions, as will be seen later on,
when this kind of service was very dangerous ; but, as a whole, our
losses on the skirmish line were lighter than some other regiments,
and we think it is not unfair to attribute the fact to the thorough
instruction we had received. It was the old story, — the oftener a
man does a thing, the better he can do it.
So far this month we had suffered from the cold and from frequent
snow-storms, but this night (the 13th) was bitter cold, and the suffer-
ings of the wounded must have been very great.
About 2 o'clock this morning we were turned out,
Sunday, drew rations, and marched to the left to support
Dec. 14. Doubleday's division — no more sleep! Our position
was behind a little rise of ground, partially concealing us
from the enemy's sight. One of the boys, spying a rebel sharp-
shooter in a tree picking off our men, crawled out to the ditch
beside the road, and with careful aim sent him to join his friends in
paradise.
The ground about where we lay was strewn with railroad iron and
shells whose imperfect fuses had prevented their explosion. During
the day while the boys were lying asleep, making up for lost
time, cries of " Fire, ! " were heard. Upon waking we saw the
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 167
1862. blazing grass creeping rapidly toward us. There was in-
deed cause for alarm, for if the fire reached the unex-
ploded shells that laid about the ground in our very midst, a good
many of us might meet with the death we hoped to escape. It took
but a moment to take in the situation. It was a question of sleeping
with our comrades or "sleeping with our fathers." Much as we
respected our ancestors, we preferred the companionship of those
about us, therefore some bent their energies to removing the shells
out of reach, while others devoted their efforts to putting out the
fire, which work was finally accomplished without any one being
injured.
The following account" of our doings in this battle is taken from
the report which Colonel Leonard, commanding the brigade, made to
the division commander :
In obedience to orders, we crossed the river at the head of the brigade, beyond
the Bernard mansion, when the regiment was deployed as skirmishers, crossing
the entire left flank to the river. After advancing about half a mile, crossing a
ravine, the direction was changed to the right, and the left wing brought up
toward the Bowling Green road. When approaching near it, the enemy's pickets
were discovered posted in the road. They slowly fell back as we advanced, and
possession of the road was gained without firing a shot, covering the front of the
brigade, and extending nearly a quarter of a mile to the left, when we joined the
pickets established by General Meade's division. The regiment remained in that
position all night.
About 9 A.M., Saturday, the I3tb, General Meade's division changed position
to the right, and were placed with the front resting on the road, when I asked to
have my left wing rallied to the right, which was granted. Before the movement
was completed, an advance was ordered, and the right wing was moved to the
front about five hundred yards, into an open field, where the enemy's pickets were.
They fell back as we advanced, exchanging shots, to the woods in our front. This
ground was held until i P.M., when the ammunition was exhausted. At that
time the brigade was advanced over the line of skirmishers toward the woods,
and we were ordered to the rear to get ammunition, when the engagement
became general. The skirmishers were assembled on the right and left, and
retired in good order. I remained on the left of the line of skirmishers, covering
Hall's Battery, with four companies, until there appeared to be a general retreat,
when I marched them to the rear, near the Bernard mansion, and re-formed the
regiment and obtained a supply of ammunition.
ITie following extract is from a report made by the adjutant to the
State authorities of Massachusetts :
168 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
i86z. Enclosed please find list of casualties for Dr. Dale, which I am
happy to state is the smallest of any regiment I have heard of in
the division. The regiment crossed, without any loss, in the night — or rather
recrossed — on the isth, leaving the left wing in front of the rebel lines without a
man knowing we were moving. All the pickets came safely across before sunrise
on the 1 6th, and rejoined us on the march at an early hour. When we first crossed
on Friday, the I2th, at an early hour, the brigade was at once advanced in front
of the division, and the Thirteenth deployed and advanced as skirmishers. We
finally met them, and they at once began to retire over a large plain, with here or
there a clump of trees, until they arrived at the skirt of the woods, extending a
distance nearly covering the front of the brigade. We got a fine position on a
road fronting them with a ditch parallel, and there we picketed all night, having
a third of the regiment on, and relieved every two hours.
No shots were exchanged that night in our front. Very hasty cups of coffee
were drank that morning by the boys, and every officer and man in the regiment
was tired enough to sleep, had time been granted ; but before noon the brigades
were formed in line of battle, and skirmishers pushed forward to the brow of a
slight declivity, the rebels retiring into the woods, and the crack of the skirmish-
ers began. All the brigades advanced, over the fence and ditch and remained
lying down. Our right connected with Meade's division, and the left with
Doubleday's Pennsylvania Reserves. The right of the brigade was the Eighty-
eighth Pennsylvania, who broke, and came near breaking up the next, of Jones';
but General Taylor got them in, and then we remained for a few hours under the
cross-fire of several batteries. Our men laid very close and kept up a brisk fire
on the rebels, who gave them no show, except by the flash or smoke of their
rifles. We suffered very little, as the shot went over and struck in the rear regi-
ments. That was a time to show the metal of the men. The continuous thug of
the bullets, as they struck around every man as he rose up to fire, and the fact
that there were less than three hundred men in front of three brigades, every
man's actions to be seen by those in the rear, and not knowing anything but what
was going on in front, proved the grit of what remains of our regiment. At the
general advance, shortly after noon, our regiment began to fire as rapidly as they
could from kneeling position, until the brigades advanced over them and com-
menced the battle in earnest, as the press has it. The Thirteenth was ordered to
rally upon their reserve of two companies, and sent nearly half a mile to the rear
for ammunition, which they got, after a long time, and the brigade had mostly
fallen back, and formed on us. By what miracle our men escaped no one can
tell, but certain it was that on our recapitulation to-day (17th) the regiment can
account for every man but two, who were, doubtless, deserters, as they were not in
the fight. The Twelfth Massachusetts, I think, passed us, went into the woods,
crossed the railroad, and met with a murderous fire, both from their masked bat-
tery and the rebels, who were piled tier on tier behind felled trees and felled
woods. We are the largest regiment in the brigade (314 for duty) by some fifty
men.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 169
i86a. The following extracts are taken from the report of
Brig.-Gen. Nelson Taylor, in whose brigade we served :
On the morning of the 13th, by direction of Brigadier-General Gibbon, com-
manding division, I formed line of battle south of and parallel to the Bowling
Green road, about two miles south-east of Fredericksburg, Va. This was executed
under cover of the Thirteenth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, then deployed
as skirmishers. My command was arranged as follows (Thirteenth Regiment,
Massachusetts Volunteers, deployed as skirmishers), commencing from the right
of the line: First, Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers; second. Ninety-
seventh New York Volunteers; third. Eighty-third New York Volunteers; fourth.
Eleventh Pennsylvania Volunteers. Having the line formed, I was then (about
9 A.M.) ordered to advance it to within about 300 yards of the skirt of a wood
covering a range of hills immediately in our front and the grading of the
Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad.
In the execution of this order I drew the fire of the enemy, whom I found
strongly posted in force in the wood and behind the railroad track. The
skirmishers being within good range, a lively fire was kept up by them with effect
on both sides. The line not being in range, I caused the men to lie down, to
avoid as much as possible the efifect of the enemy's artillery, which had opened
upon my line from right to left.
At I P.M. I was ordered to advance my line, which I did, to within a short
distance of the wood, when the whole line became briskly engaged. The enemy
seemed to concentrate the most of his fire on the two regiments on the left of
my line (the Eleventh Pennsylvania and Eighty-third New York), which, from
casualties and other causes, soon melted away, when the Second Brigade, com-
manded by Colonel Lyle, was advanced and took their places on the left of the
regiments on the right (the Ninety-seventh New York and Eighty-eighth Penn-
sylvania), which regiments were marched a short distance to the right to make
room for and unmask the advancing line.
The troops, generally, composing this brigade displayed a great deal of bravery
and courage.
Maj.-Gen. John F. Reynolds, who commanded the First Corps
on this occasion, complimented our brigade for having performed its
movements without confusion.
We are pleased to mention that Brigadier- General Gibbon, in his
report, pays a handsome compliment to the Twelfth Massachusetts
for its gallant conduct at this battle, and they certainly deserved it.
170 THBEE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. Lieut.-Col. William F. Fox, in his book of statistical
tables of losses during the war, selects three hundred
regiments as being what he esteems " fighting regiments." He says
that this number
Includes every regiment in the Union armies which lost over one hundred and
thirty in killed and died of wounds during the war, together with a few whose
losses were somewhat smaller, but whose percentage of killed entitles them to a
place in the list.
His argument for this arbitrary designation is
That in the long run, active ser\ace brings its many scars. Where the musketry
was the hottest, the dead lay thickest; and there is no better way to find the
fighting regiments than to follow up the bloody trail which marked the brave
advance.
Notwithstanding the rhetorical varnish with which he has polished
his statement, it still remains a piece of sophistical argument. It is
a military axiom, or ought to be, that war should be carried on to
do the greatest possible injury to the enemy with the least possible
danger to one's self. A man must have little appreciation of the
qualifications necessary to constitute a " fighting regiment " to select
three hundred out of the long- list of regiments that did honorable
service, because they had the misfortune to lose more than one hun-
dred and twenty-nine men killed and died of wounds. Two regi-
ments standing side by side may show equal valor, yet meet with
very unequal losses. Indeed, there were instances during the war
where regiments showing little valor, on particular occasions, suffered
most in their losses.
We refer to this matter, which is not very important, perhaps, for
the reason that among his three hundred fighting regiments he selects
three out of the four that composed HartsufPs brigade, omitting the
fourth one because it did not come up to his standard. It is fair
to say that three better fighting regiments did not exist than the
Ninth New York, the Eleventh Pennsylvania, and the Twelfth Massa-
chusetts. It is also fair to say that the Thirteenth, which is the one
omitted from HartsufTs brigade, shared with the others their battles,
their privations, and their hardships ; but a person reading Colonel
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 171
1862. Fox's list might reasonably infer, if he gave the statement
any consideration at all, that some disquaUfication existed
to prevent the Thirteenth from being classed with its associates. Our
number killed was one hundred and twenty- two, eight short of the
number required to be in the list of " fighting regiments."
1 Remained quiet until night, when the brigade received
Monday, an Order to detail two hundred and fifty men, in two
Dec. 15. parties, for picket duty. The detail was made from the
Eleventh Pennsylvania and the Thirteenth Massachusetts,
and was ordered to relieve the sharpshooters, that were formed a
mile to the left. As the firing between the pickets ceased, the men
one by one dropped off to sleep.
About 2 o'clock this morning we were awakened by a
Tuesday, cavalryman who notified us that the rest of the army
Dec. 16. jjg^jj crossed the river, and that we must hasten to
the bridge as quickly as possible. The work of with-
drawing the troops had been conducted so quietly that this was
the first intimation we received of what had been going on. The
knowledge that we were in a very dangerous position lent an activity
to our muscles they rarely felt on approaching an enemy. For-
tunately for the success of our movements a strong wind was blowing
toward the north.
Though close to the river we were two miles from the bridge, and
in order to reach it we had to make a detour that took us within a
hundred rods of the rebel pickets. A good deal of caution, was
therefore required to prevent the movement from being discovered.
At the bridge we found General Franklin waiting to see the last
of the pickets safely across.
The pontoon bridge was immediately removed, and within half an
hour the rebel cavalry were at the banks of the river where the
bridge had been fastened.
We marched two or three miles and then went into camp with the
brigade. Having pitched tents and made ourselves as comfortable
as possible, the men gathered round the fires to cook their coffee
and resume discussion of the battle and their commanders ; which,
by the way, was somewhat severe. Whatever criticisms may have
172 THREE YEAB8 IN THE ARMY.
1862. been made on Bumside on account of the foolishness of
this battle, we wer? ready to acknowledge that he and
his officers deserved credit for the skill shown in getting his troops
back across the river without further loss.
The following extract from Palfrey's story of Fredericksburg states
so accurately our own experience that we venture to quote it :
Those who have been in battle know how much and how little thejr saw and
heard. They remember how the smoke and the woods and the inequalities of
ground limited their vision when they had leisure to look about them, and how
every faculty was absorbed in their work when they were actively engaged; how
the deafening noise made it almost impossible to hear orders ; what ghastly sights
they saw as men and horses near them were torn with shell; how peacefully the
men sank to rest whom the more merciful rifle-bullet reached in a vital spot; how
some wounded men shrieked and others lay quiet ; how awful was the sound of
the projectiles when they were near hostile batteries; how incessant was the sing-
ing and whistling of the balls from rifles and muskets ; how little they commonly
knew of what was going on a. hundred yards to their right or left. Orderly
advances of bodies of men may be easily described and easily imagined, but
pictures of real fighting are and must be imperfect Participants in real fighting
know how limited and fragmentary and confused are their recollections of work
after it became hot. The larger the force engaged, the more impossible it is to
give an accurate presentation of its experiences. We can follow the charge of
the six hundred at Balaklava, from which less than one in three came back
unharmed, better than we can follow the advance of Hancock's five thousand at
Fredericksburg, from which not quite three in five came back unharmed. And
Hancock's advance was only one of many. " Six times," says Lee, " did the enemy>
notwithstanding the havoc caused by our batteries, press on with great determi-
nation to within one hundred yards of the foot of the hill, but here encountering
the deadly fire of our infantry, his columns were broken, itnd fled in confusion to
the town."
There was a strong impression among the men of the Thirteenth
that General Franklin had not given that cordial support to General
Bumside that became a general who was determined to win. As we
retreated to the north bank of the river, crestfallen and disgusted,
very emphatic expressions of condemnation were made on his ap-
parent lack of sympathy with Bumside's movement. The following
is the order sent to General Franklin about which there has been so
much criticism :
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 173
i86a. Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Dec. 13, 1862, 5.55 P.M.
Major-General Franklin, Commanding Left Grand Division, Army of the
Potomac :
General Hardie will carry this despatch to you, and remain with you during the
day. The general commanding directs that you keep your whole command in
position for a rapid movement down the old Richmond road, and you will send
out at once a division, at least, to pass below Smithfield, to seize, if possible, the
heights near Captain Hamilton's on this side of the Massaponax, taking care to
keep it well supported and its line of retreat open. He has ordered another
column of a division or more to be moved from General Sumner's command up
the plank-road, to its intersection with the telegraph road, where they will divide,
with a view to seizing the heights on both of those roads. Holding those two
heights, with the heights near Captain Hamilton's, will, he hopes, compel the
enemy to evacuate the whole ridge between these points. I make these
moves by columns distant from each other, with a view of avoiding the possibility
of a collision of our own forces, which might occur in a general movement during
the fog. Two of General Hooker's divisions are in your rear, at the bridges, and
will remain there as supports.
Copies of instructions given to Generals Sumner and Hooker will be forwarded
to you by an orderly very soon.
You will keep your whole command in readiness to move at once, as soon as
the fog lifts. The watchword, which, if possible, should be given to every com-
pany, will be " Scots."
I have the honor to be, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. G. PARKE,
Chief of Staff.
General Franklin says that in the state of facts existing when it
was received, "General Bumside's order, though incongruous and
contradictory on its face, admitted of but one interpretation ; viz.,
that he intended to make an armed observation from the left to
ascertain the strength of the enemy, an interpretation also given to
it by both of my corps commanders."
About 9 A.M. we marched twelve miles to Fletcher's
Friday, Chapel, situated on the road to the Potomac River, and
Dec. 19. went into camp on land of Mr. Bowie, where we stayed
until January 20.
The camp was laid out with the usual regard to company streets,
but instead of relying upon tents for protection, houses were built in
accordance with the ingenuity and fancy of the occupants. Some
174 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1862. were one story and others two stories in height, while
others were mere "dug-outs." The shelter tent sup-
plied the roof.
In building huts, the following method was generally pursued :
The work was begun by excavating about two feet of earth and
laying a floor of trimmed cedar poles, lining the underground walls
with matched green logs of cedar and pine, continuing the walls
about two feet above the ground. On this frame was pitched the
tent, the size of the hut depending on the number of occupants ; as
each man contributed one piece of tent, it was easy to distinguish the
number of tenants by looking at the roof. The earth that was re-
moved was used to bank up the outside of the walls. In each hut
was built a fireplace, around which we could sit or cook. The
chimney was made of green sticks, cob-house style, plastered inside
■with mud-mortar. In some instances barrels or cracker-boxes, lined
with red clay, were used as chimneys. It will be seen by this that a
fair degree of comfort was attained, though here and there a chim-
ney smoked with exasperating annoyance to the occupants.
This camp presented a striking contrast to our other camps this
winter, where huge log-fires were built in every company street,
around which we gathered for warmth. Now the streets were almost
deserted, though it frequently happened as you turned out for roll-
call in the morning, that your sluggish nature would be awakened
into activity by a snowball, just to remind you of school days.
Details were made for guard, for chopping wood, and to assist in
building corduroy roads, while picket duty and drilling came in for
their share of consideration.
Belle Plain Landing was three miles away, and details were often
made to go to that place for suppUes. Apples could be bought
there, three for twenty-five cents. How many apples could you buy
at this price on the munificent salary of thirteen dollars per month?
was the question that excited the mathematicians of the regiment.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, December 22, 1862.
To THE Army of the Potomac:
I have just read your Commanding General's preliminary report of the battle
■of Fredericksburg. Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an
TBIBTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 175
1862. error, not the failure other than an accident. The courage with
which you, in an open field, maintained the contest against an en-
trenched foe, and the consummate skill and success with which you crossed and
recrossed the river, in face of the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities
of a great army, which will yet give victory to the cause of the country and of
popular government. Condoling with the mourners for the dead, and sympa-
thizing with the severely wounded, I congratulate you that the number of both is
comparatively so small.
I tender to you, officers and soldiers, the thanks of the nation.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Christmas came but no stockings were hung up — except to dry.
On the 30th we were reviewed by General Taylor, and on the same
day Maj.-Gen. John C. Robinson took command of the division, to
the disgust of General Taylor, who shortly after resigned.
176 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
CHAPTER IX.
1863. New Year's day brought forcibly to mind that our ser-
Thursday, ^^^ ^f tjjjge years was about half completed, though the
Jan. I. remaining eighteen months seemed a long look ahead.
The regiment had been reduced from 1,038 to less than
350 men, the number now mustered at roll-call. Nearly all of this
reduction had occurred during the last five months. Counted in
with this reduction were the men who were detailed at brigade, divi-
sion, or cqrps headquarters, performing services for which they had
some special qualification, while a considerable number of the rank
and file had received commissions as officers in other regiments.
Officers' luggage had been so reduced that the distinction in rank
was much less marked than during the early part of our service.
Instead of one hundred men, some of the companies had only twenty
to twenty-five. The officers of a company were little better off than
the men, and as time wore on the difference became still less, while
the hardships and privations increased, as will be seen farther along.
Having made our huts as comfortable as possible, we settled down
for the winter, glad enough at the prospect of a respite, as we fondly
imagined, from marching and fighting. Some of the boys had taken
great pains in the construction of their huts, particularly in building
fireplaces and other conveniences for their comfort and pleasure.
As long as the sutler remained with us, and our credit continued,
we managed to live luxuriously, as compared with our experience of
the last four months. We could always procure sugar and lemons
from the sutler, to which we added water; and when our efforts
were successful, a little stimulant, for the " stomach's sake."
We had work enough during t;he day, chopping wood, policing
camp, guard duty, etc., to keep us from despising our leisure.
Our evenings were spent in reading or playing cards, or, as it often
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 177
1863. happened, in dropping into each others' huts for a chat
or to hear the latest news. Newspapers were exchanged
and their contents discussed. The published letters from corre-
spondents were always read with interest, particularly those which
related to our own corps.
The qualifications of general officers, and plans of battles, were also
freely discussed. Songs were sung and gossip repeated. At some
of these camp-fires curiosity would often be expressed to know what
had become of those shirks and bummers who believed with the
Holy Writ that " a living dog is better than a dead lion." We had,
like other regiments, some curious specimens of this genus, and our
narrative would be incomplete without relating something about these
patriots.
There was one in particular whose blundering ways, when recalled,
afforded a good deal of amusement. He was about as much of a
soldier as a hen, and his careless, bungling habits caused a good deal
of friction in the daily life of some of us. No soldier likes to have
his calves used as a door-mat for the feet of the man behind him.
The champion of all offenders in this respect was a man who was
called by the sweet name of " Molasses." He was thrust upon us
the day before we left Fort Independence. No one knew him before
he joined the regiment, and only one man sought his acquaintance
afterward. He was homely in appearance, unshapely in form,
awkward in. gait, and as ignorant and dirty a slouch as could be
found. His gait was like that of a man who, having spent his life in
a ploughed field, could not divest his mind of the idea that he was
still stepping over furrows. He was about fifteen years older than
the rest of us, and his manly breast was undisturbed by a single thrill
of patriotism ; each corpuscle of blood, as it flowed from his heart,
carried to the remotest extremity of his body one desire, — "Put
money in thy purse." His mercenary and penurious spirit prompted
him to increase his income by the sale of small wares to his comrades,
who despised him for his unsoldier-like thrift. He was generally
absent when his services were needed, so that the man whose name
was next on the list had to take his place, which always happened
when the duty was unusually hard or dangerous, as occasionally
178 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. happened at the end of a long march. With all these
failings he had, to a remarkable degree, the God-given
instinct which is said to be one of the qualities of the war-horse, — he
could snuff the battle from afar, and took advantage of this gift by
absenting himself at a time when it was difficult, afterward, to say
absolutely whether it was cowardice or his wandering spirit that
prompted him to " light out," as could have been determined if he
had waited until the last moment. Just before we went into the
battle of Manassas, having been too closely watched to enable him
to disappear, he stopped to tie his shoe, and never returned to the
regiment again. When we were small boys and saw the troops in fine
uniforms marching through the streets, it seemed a glorious thing to
be a soldier. In our youthful imagination every man who carried a
gun was a hero, but after having one's heels trod on and the calves
of one's legs kicked by the muddy feet of a man who had no rhythm
in his soul, there didn't seem to be quite so much of a heroic halo
surrounding the soldier as we had pictured. Therefore we were
glad he never came back.
Another specimen we had was " Smoothbore." If there was
a man in the regiment who had fewer instincts of cleanliness
than this man he will lose the opportunity of being recorded in
these pages. Smoothbore acquired his sobriquet from that antiquated
and useless arm called the smooth-bore musket. The likeness of the
two, so far as usefulness went, was such that the name stuck to our
hero. He was bitterly opposed to the use of water in any way but
internally. The men of his company, with the authority of the cap-
tain, once undertook to wash him, and it required a considerable
force to carry out this laudable purpose. When his clothes were re-
moved he was found to be as dirty and lousy as a saint under pen-
ance. Having succeeded in getting him into the brook, they
procured some flat stones and scrubbed him until he looked like a
boiled lobster. In consequence of his struggling, — so the boys ex-
plained to the captain in answer to Smoothbore's complaint of hard
usage, — some of his hide, that was too thin to stand the chafing,
came off with the dirt. It was a useless piece of work they did, for
the experience intensified his prejudice against the use of water, which
THIHTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 179
1863. he never after used externally. Just before the battle of
Manassas he deserted, carrying with him an inexhaustible
supply of the pediculus vestimenti. He was so melancholy and self-
ish that we were glad he also had departed.
We had great pleasure in recalling these old heroes, who had
escaped death so many times by keeping out of danger.
The " shirk " whose history we are about to relate did not desert.
He neither " struck for the flag " nor " struck for home." He stayed
with us for three years, because it required more energy than he
possessed to desert, and because he led a peaceful and contented life
in spite of his being in the army. He was one of those taken into
the regiment to fill up the quota of a company as we were about
leaving home. Though an enlisted man he never did any duty as
such, preferring the primrose paths of a pampered menial where
there was plenty to eat and little to do. He must have had a good
deal of shrewdness to have succeeded for three years in escaping the
duties for which he enlisted. He could whine to perfection, and
very early in his service he acquired a reputation for being absolutely
worthless for any duty requiring courage or exertion — the position
of hostler filling his ambition. At one time, being out of a job as
hostler, he sought admission to the hospital ; but the doctors would
not have him occupying a bed, nor would they employ him in any
capacity, sending him back to his company. He was useless in his
company, as he was elsewhere, so he was turned out and told to " Go to
the devil ; go anywhere ; but )'ou can't stay with us." He became
attached to the wagon-train, where he spent the rest of his service,
doing as little as possible.
Soon after the regiment was discharged, concluding that he was
unfitted for the active duties of a man who had to earn his living by
the sweat of his brow, he entered that haven of rest called the alms-
house. This step was not taken, however, until he had thoroughly
tested the capacity of his friends in supporting him.
He had superior qualifications for a pauper's life, — contentment,
perfect health, a good appetite, and excellent digestive organs. Un-
fortunately for him his appetite was a little too good, as it excited
the animosity of the cook, and through her the selectmen of the town.
180 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. It often happens in country towns, when the question
of reducing the taxes is agitated, that the selectmen call
round to the almshouse to see if the butcher's bills cannot be trimmed
down a little, for, as Ben. Franklin said, " A penny saved is a penny
earned." Now, when they learned what an appetite our old hero
had, and listened to the grumbling of the cook, they determined to
bounce him out of his comfortable nest ; but to turn an old soldier
out into the cold world meant something in a community where
every soldier was a hero. The selectmen knew the women would
have made it hot for them if they tried it. So they reflected ; and
in a quiet way they began to question him about his past life, and in
what towns he had paid taxes, until they discovered a flaw in his
settlement in the fact that his enlistment was credited to another
town. They could hardly repress their fiendish glee at this dis-
covery, and promptly notified the other town of the fact, with the
request that they must provide for him. Then followed a long dis-
pute, which ended, at last, by his removal. The authorities of the
town to which he was removed were dismayed at the prospect of
supporting him in idleness for long years to come, and would have
rebelled but for the sentiment which the women of this town kept
alive for the old soldier, as they do in other towns in the State, with-
out regard to his worth as such.
.After the matter was finally settled the question arose as to
whether or not some income might be obtained toward his support ;
whereupon the authorities paid his expenses to Boston to hunt up
some of his old comrades to see if they couldn't aid him in procur-
ing a pension, and this is how our interest in him was renewed. We
were much interested when he informed us of the purpose of his
visit; but a disability mustbe found before papers could be made
out. This was a difficult thing to do, as his three years of service
had been passed in continuous tranquillity, remote from danger. He
was asked to mention some accident or sickness that by a possible
stretch of the imagination might be construed as having affected
him. When asked if he ever had any pains he said, " A year or two
ago I had a pain in my back." — " What do you think was the cause
of that ? " we inquired. This was a poser. Though he couldn't look
THIRTEENTB MASS. VOLS. 181
1863. into the future, he still held his grip on the past ; so he
slowly carried- his mind back twenty- four years to a day
when riding on the ammunition wagon, he recalled that it suddenly
stopped, throwing him forward with his hands resting on the haunches
of the mule in front of him, from which position he allowed that
he pushed himself back into his seat without difficulty. He felt
nothing at the time, nor, indeed, until twenty-two years had passed.
What an ideal life this man must have led, that it was necessary to
go back twenty-two years to find cause for a passing pain in the back !
We looked at this hero, as his mind went back to the stirring scenes
of the war, and noticed how gently time had dealt with him. His
fat round body and rosy cheeks showed the value of regular habits,
with plenty of food and sleep, and nothing to do. It was hard lines
for us to do it, but we broke it to him as gently as possible by telling
him that, instead of the government owing him anything, he owed the
government a pension. He then left us and returned to the alms-
house. The case didn't end here, for a committee of the selectmen
came to Boston at the town's expense, to interview members of his
regiment and to urge his claim, saying it was the duty of his old
comrades to assist in obtaining a pension, which would help the town
in its support of him. These worthy men, after listening to our re-
fusal, and our statement that he w;as a disgrace to the regiment, had
the effrontery to say it was our duty to support him, and lectured us
on our lack of feeling for an old comrade-in-arms, adding that they
should always remember what a contemptible set of men composed
the Thirteenth Regiment.
As long as there are women in that town, we needn't worry about
his support, for they will look after this old hero, and shower upon
him all the blessings their tender sympathies can suggest.
After we have all joined " the innumerable caravan " that Mr. Bryant
wrote about, he will still be living — probably the last surviving mem-
ber of his regiment. By that time the women of his town will cry,
" For shame ! to keep an old scarred veteran in the almshouse ! "
They will possibly hold an annual " fair " to provide money for his
maintenance in some respectable family where he can have comfort
and liberty. On festive occasions he will be trotted out as the brave
182 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. soldier who made great sacrifices that the country might
be saved. On Memorial day he will be carted round in
a carriage, and the orator will point to him with feelings of pride as
" a glorious old relic, whose deeds of valor in the War of the Re-
bellion shed a lustre on the town," and the crowd will respond with
long-continued applause. When he is ninety years of age, perhaps
some giddy young woman, burning with desire to be a soldier's bride,
will marry him, and in the year two thousand and something she
may be drawing a widow's pension for services her husband was sup-
posed to have rendered in the nineteenth century. Stranger things
than these have happened.
When old soldiers see the tender solicitude that women sometimes
display for the shirks and bummers, those lilies of the army who
toiled not, neither did they fight, it provokes some rather unchari-
table remarks, not at the motive which prompts the kindness, but the
useless waste of sympathy showered on such specimens. If this
statement meets the eyes of one of these tender-hearted women, she
will be shocked, of course. When we see these fellows sailing along
under false colors, the recipients of charity intended for worthy but
unfortunate soldiers, we cannot help thinking of those old days when
every man was expected to do his duty, particularly when that duty
was fighting, as Farragut said, and recalling how ingenious were some
of the devices practised by these fellows to rid themselves of disa-
greeable or dangerous service. The surgeons of the army could tell
some funny stories of their experience, and the officers and men of
every company could relate some also. It is not a pleasant thing to
criticise exhibitions of well-meant, though indiscriminate generosity ;
but it is a fact that every man had a record of some kind, with which
the members of his regiment are familiar, and it ought not to be a
very difficult thing to obtain the facts. These men should be weeded
out from association with deserving ones.
In a regiment of men you will meet all shades of character.
The generous and the frugal, the obliging and the surly, the con-
scientious and the unscrupulous, the brutal and the gentle, the
cheerful and the dejected, are all bunched together in closest
intimacy. Some may be found full of merriment, overcoming trials
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 183
1863. and privations with abundance of good-nature, while
others are so despondent that nothing ever seems right.
Men are to be found who are always ready to do a kind action, and
others who will impose on the good-natured to the utmost limit. The
varnish of poUteness and affability which one acquires by mingling
with society soon disappears from a man who takes his place in the
rank and file of an army. So long as he does his duty he may be as
disagreeable as he pleases, without violating an army regulation.
Education and bringing up may assist in concealing one's natural in-
stincts for a while, but in the end a soldier stands with his comrades
for just what he is. If a man's inclination is to bully, it will show
itself in a thousand ways ; if he is selfish, it will be discovered at the
first drawing of rations ; if lazy, at the first call of duty ; if he lacks
courage, he will endeavor to shirk the first danger that threatens.
You see human nature just as it exists where men are unrestrained by
any civilizing influence. Among the human parasites that infest the
army was the soldier who was forever sponging on his fellows. Suc-
cess as a bummer varied according to the abilities and ingenuity of
the individual, but, as a rule, he failed when his reputation as such
became established. We had a man in marked contrast to the
characters we have just described, whose merits were so superior to
any man of his class we ever saw, that it is not extravagant to say
that he was equalled by few and surpassed by none. He was the
most agreeably lazy man we ever saw, hating work as intensely as a
tramp. There was only one duty he would do without urging, and
that was fighting. He had no lack of courage, was handsome
and intelligent, well educated, a fine singer, of a genial disposition,
and to crown all, was gifted with as persuasive a tongue as any mor-
tal ever had. Until the beginning of the war his father had been a
man of wealth, and consequently our hero was never required to do
anything for which he had a disinclination. Beginning at Fort
Independence, he continued through his service to borrow from
everybody that had a dollar which could be inveigled, and never
thought of returning it, though his temperament was so sanguine
that he easily convinced his creditors, as he did himself, that he
could shortly pay the loan. Additional loans were often received
184 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. from creditors who protested in advance that he had bor-
rowed their last dollar. You might be provoked with him
for not returning the borrowed shekels, and scold him well for the neg-
lect, but he would appear so genuinely sorry at the delay that you felt
like offering an apology for reminding him of his obligation. He was
a pleasant addition to any group, and a place was always cheerfully
made for him round a fire. He had an extensive acquaintance with
books, and could argue without offence, acknowledging the superiority
of his opponent's argument with an amicability that was charming.
He never, like most of us, received a box from home, yet always ob-
tained a liberal share of others'. He never carried a pipe, tobacco, or
match, yet he always had his smoke, even whentobacco was very scarce ;
and to top all, he generally found some one to do any disagreeable duty
he wished to be rid of. When the service of the regiment was com-
pleted he was supported by his fnends. His old comrades contributed
liberally to his wants, occasionally provided him with clothes, took
him to the theatre or to dinner, or to both, were always glad of his
company, and would be delighted to shake him by the hand again,
though it would be an expensive pleasure. Nature never intended
him for work, and he never attempted to violate the scheme laid out
for him by the planets that controlled his destiny. Oddly enough
this man with so many attractive qualities acquired the inharmonious
nickname of " Chuck" from his habit of always saying " chuck it,"
when you had anything to give him, rather than exert himself to
move out of his position to reach for it. His acquaintance was one
of the luxuries of our army life, and we think "Chuck" was worth
all he cost.
Some of our young readers — supposirig, of course, that we have
young readers — may wonder why we do not say something about the
heroes of the regiment. The fact is that brave men, men who only
needed an opportunity to distinguish themselves, were as plenty as
huckleberries. It is not the men whose names appear the oftenest
in the newspapers that are the greatest heroes or the most cour-
ageous men. In truth, every soldier knows that some pretty poor
specimens have acquired renown by pushing themselves forward in the
daily press. When a boy, sitting beside us at a regimenUl dinner.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 185
1863. asks who such a man is that is making so much fun, whom
we recognize as among the best of soldiers, we like to sit
down with that boy and tell him what we have seen that man do at a
critical moment, and what we know about the brave deeds of other men
that he sees about him. We have purposely refrained from mentioning
in our story the names of anybody, through fear of omitting some name
entitled to honorable mention that we cannot recall while writing. It
was one of the curious things about men of exceptional daring and
courage that they generally looked upon every other fellow as being
equally so. We know men in the Thirteenth — and it is the same with
other regiments — with a record that every man who respects courage
and fortitude under trying circumstances would be glad to take off
his hat to when meeting them on the street, but only their comrades
know what soldiers they were. You never hear them mention the fact,
for they see nothing heroic in anything they did themselves, while
they imagine that every other man did something better.
Just as soon as we became comfortably settled in winter quarters
we found it necessary to devote our surplus energy to hunting that
sample of the Divine workmanship scientifically known as the
" Pediculus humanus." He is a wonderful little chap, satisfied to
live in Stygian darkness, hiding himself and all his family from the
closest scrutiny. After an hour or two of the most careful examina-
tion you replace your shirt satisfied that you have removed the last
one, and inwardly gratified at your success, when, as if reading your
very thoughts, he gives notice of your failure, and off goes your shirt
again for another hunt. Away go all your New Year's resolutions.
At last you come to realize that all your persistent efforts of cleanli-
ness and watching will not ensure your continuous freedom from this
disgusting little parasite.
There was another bloodthirsty little wretch that bothered us a
good deal in summer, and that was the " tick." Of course we had
fleas, as might be expected when living in a tent no bigger than a
dog-kennel, but the tick was a real enemy that did business on busi-
ness principles. If you caught him in the act and brushed him
away, as you supposed, he simply dropped his body, as one would a
knapsack, and with his head firmly imbedded under your hide, would
186 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. continue to increase and multiply, as the Bible requests
mankind to do, until very soon you would become tortured
with a most disagreeable irritation, often likely to become very serious
and occasionally resulting in lameness for weeks. What with lice,
ticks, centipedes, earwigs, etc., there was food for reflecting how
" God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform.'"
In spite of all these drawbacks we did get some pleasure out of life.
By aid of the newspapers we kept as well-informed as the rest of
the world, while letters and papers from home supplied fresh material
to be repeated at some other fireside than our own.
We all had our ideas of running a campaign, and freely criticised
the plans of our commanders, wondering why a private soldier had
so much more sense than a general.
Of course we were busy every day with drills, guard duty, fetching
our supply of wood, which had to be hauled two or three miles, and
the building of corduroy roads, so that when evening came we were
glad to fill our pipes and stroll into other quarters until tattoo,
when we answered to our names and then turned in for the night,
hoping no " long roll " would turn us out before morning.
In building huts for winter quarters, opportunity was afforded
for the exercise of such ingenuity or fancy as the boys possessed.
Some were satisfied with the simplest arrangement that could be
made, while others spent time and labor to perfect a habitation that
in comparison to some others suggested the luxurious. As in each
case the roof was the shelter tent, there was some uniformity in
appearance, the size of the roof indicating the number of occupants.
Some dug into the ground for space, and others into the air. Some
were two stories in height, and a few were dug into the hill-side. All
pretty nearly represented the degree of comfort the occupants de-
sired. Each was provided with a chimney made of barrels or boxes,
according to circumstances.
Orders were received to march. We were told that
January ao. we were to cross the river once more and engage in an
effort to turn the right wing of the enemy. Possibly
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 187
1863. Bumside was ii^ possession of information that led him
to believe this could be done, though we did not believe
it. As will be seen, this turned out to be a " holler mockery."
We had become fairly well settled in what we supposed would be
permanent winter quarters, so we were not moved to mirth or joy on
receiving the order to march. In answer to our inquiries of what
was up, we were informed that we were to cross the river and attack
the right wing of the enemy posted on the opposite bank. It was
said that Burnside had received information that the enemy had
become so weakened by the withdrawal of troops, that a victory
might be gained with the possibility of our marching on to Richmond.
The breaking up of our camp was attended by the usual destruction
of things that had contributed to our comfort and pleasure. Some
of the huts were burned, and a general scene of disorder prevailed as
we left the spot. About noon we started and marched in a westerly
direction ten miles, to Stoneman's Switch, where we halted for the
night. This was the beginning of what has since been known in war
literature as " Bumside's mud march." We had sampled from time
to time the "sacred soil" of Virginia, but in the wildest dreams of
our imagination we had seen no mud like this. As usual, after a
few weeks of continuous camp life, our knapsacks had assumed a
plethoric appearance out of keeping with the hard work before us.
When a soldier leaves a camp such as ours had become, he has to
consider what he will throw away. Idleness is what fattens a knap-
sack. A soldier generally starts with a good deal more than he can
carry, but his back, which is master of the situation, soon brings him
to terms, and after a day or two the luxuries disappear.
Somehow or other we got separated from the other regiments in
the brigade, and didn't succeed in finding them until night, and then
it was raining hard. As there was no wood to be had we could build
no fires ; and therefore no coffee ; nor could we find sticks on which to
pitch our tents, so our guns were forced to do duty in their place.
If some ministering angel had happened round about this time
with a barrel of hot whiskey, well flavored with lemon-peel and sugar,
it is doubtful if any soldier would have said, " Get thee behind me,
Satan ! " There may have been one or two, or even three or three
188 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. and a half men, whose powers of articulation would have
become so paralyzed at the thought as not to be able to
exclaim with the rest of us, " Down with rum ! " though we doubt it.
It rained hard at daylight, and so reveille was skipped.
Wednesday, Every drop of rain deepened and liquefied the mud.
January 21. Surely such a sight was never before seen as an army
struggling to make headway in such a mess. Batteries
and wagons could be moved only by doubling the number of horses,
and even then it frequently happened they became fast imbedded in
the mud. As they moved along in their jerky and twisting way, the
axle-trees would scrape the top of the soil.
Toward noon we started again, and after six hours of dreary labor
we made only four and a half miles. As we marched along the road
we saw displayed by the enemy on the opposite bank of the river
placards bearing the words, " Burnside's army stuck in the mud." Not
only that — we were jeered at by the " rebs," who were highly pleased
at our efforts in puddling. Add to it the mortification of finding
our powder wet, one can form some idea of our hopeless condition.
At the end of our four and a half miles the order was given to
halt for the night, and it came none too soon. No wonder the
" Mud march " has become one of the historical episodes of the war.
We remained quiet all day. The pitiable condition of
Thursday, the army must have shown the uselessness of attempting
January 22. a movement against the enemy at such a time. We re-
ceived half-rations last night, and being encamped near a
forest, were able to get wood for fires, and so managed to make life
endurable. Fence rails had become very scarce. As the warmth of
the fires stole over the boys, they began, as usual, to turn their misery
into fun, though there was nothing very hilarious about it.
We got away at 8 A.M. and waded back through the
Friday, mud to our camp at Fletcher's Chapel, a distance of
January 23. fourteen miles. It was a hard day's work, but the boys
were encouraged by the fact that each step shortened
the distance to our supplies. We soon forsook the road for the fields
and woods, wading brooks and jumping ditches, glad at any progress
toward the camp we left on the 20th.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 189
1863. We found the camp in a sorry condition, from the rain
and the disorder in which we left it. Those of us who
destroyed our huts when we left this spot on the 20th felt badly
enough as we gazed on the ruins.
The camp was soon restored to a moderate degree of comfort ;
fires were lighted and coffee made, whereupon there ensued a lively
discussion on the monumental stupidity of our recent movement. If
a general officer could have been present, unseen, at a gathering of
private soldiers round a camp-fire after a battle, or after a movement
such as the one we have just described, he would have heard some
plain, instructive talk. We were pretty unanimously of the opinion
that " Old Abe " had better appoint a private soldier to run the next
campaign. As our huts assumed a condition of comfort, like Jove,
we smoothed our wrinkled fronts, and settled down to another period
of camp life.
The following graphic account of the " Mud march " campaign is
taken from Swinton's " Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac :"
The point at which General Burnside resolved this time to essay the passage of
the Rappahannock was Banks' Ford (not then fordable), about six miles above
Fredericksburg. As, however, the enemy had a force in observation at all the
practicable crossings of the Rappahannock, and as there was no possibility of
making preparations for the passage at any one point with such secrecy that he
should not become aware of it, it was resolved to make feints of crossing at sev-
eral distinct points, both above and below Fredericksburg, and these mark the
real intent. Accordingly, new roads were cut through the woods to afford the
readier access to the fords, batteries were planted, rifle-trenches were formed, and
cavalry demonstrations along the line ; and these manifestations were made im-
partially at a variety of points.
The weather and roads had been in excellent condition since the battle, and on
the 19th of January, 1863, the columns were put in motion with such secrecy as
could be observed. The Grand Divisions of Franklin and Hooker ascended the
river by parallel roads, and at night encamped in the woods at convenient distance
from the fords.
But during the night a terrible storm came on, and then each man thought that
the move was ended. It was a wild Walpurgis night, such as Goethe paints in
" Faust." Yet there was brave work done during its hours, for the guns were
hauled painfully up the heights and placed in their positions, and the pontoons
were drawn down nearer to the river. But it was already seen to be a hopeless
task ; for the clayey roads and fields, under the influence of the rain, had become
190 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. bad beyond all former experience, and by daylight, when the boats
should have been on the banks ready to slide down into the water,
but fifteen had been gotten up — not enough for one bridge, and five were
wanted. Moreover, the night operations had not escaped the notice of the wary
enemy, and by morning Lee had massed his army to meet the menaced crossing.
In this state of facts, when all the conditions on which it was expected to make
a successful passage had been baulked, it would have been judicious in General
Burnside to have promptly abandoned an operation that was now hopeless.
But it was a, characteristic of that general's mind (a characteristic that might be
good or bad according to the direction it took) never to turn back when he had
once put his hand to the plough ; and it had already more than once been seen
that the more hopeless the enterprise the greater his pertinacity. The night's
rain had made deplorable havoc with the roads; but herculean efforts were made
to bring pontoons enough into position to build a bridge or two, withal. Double
and triple teams of horses and mules were harnessed to each boat; but it was in
vain. Long stout ropes were then attached to the teams and a, hundred and
fifty men put to the task on each. The effort was but little more successful.
Floundering through the river for a few feet, the gang of Liliputians, with their
huge-ribbed Gulliver, were forced to give over, breathless. Night arrived, but
the pontoons could not be got up; and the enemy's pickets, discovering what was
going on, jocularly shouted out their intention to "come over to-morrow and help
build the bridges."
Morning dawned upon another day of rain and storm. The ground had gone
from bad to worse, and now showed such a spectacle as might be presented by the
elemental wrecks of another deluge. An indescribable chaos of pontoons,
vehicles, and artillery encumbered all the roads, — supply-wagons upset by the
roadside, guns stalled in the mud, ammunition-trains ruined by the way, and
hundreds of horses and mules buried in the liquid mud. The army, in fact, was
embargoed ; it was no longer a question of how to go forward — it was a question
of how to get back. The three days' rations brought on the persons of the men
were exhausted, and the supply-trains could not be moved up. To aid the return,
all the available force was put to work to corduroy the rotten roads. Next
morning the army floundered and staggered back to the old camps; and so ended
a movement that will always live in the recollection of the army as the " Mud
march," and which remains a striking exemplification of the enormous difficulties
incident to winter campaigning in Virginia.
In a note the statement is made that '' the nature of the upper
geologic deposits of this region affords unequalled elements for bad
roads, for it is a soil out of which, when it rains, the bottom drops,
and yet which is so tenacious that extrication from its clutch is next to
impossible."
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 191
1863. It is not an exaggeration to say, that before or after,
there was seen no such state of demoralization as pos-
sessed a large part of the Army of the Potomac at the end of this
foolish undertaking. On our return march, men were seen straggling
back to their camps, cursing everything and everybody. Strewed
along the road lying in the mud could be seen knapsacks, guns, and
equipments, thrown away by men thoroughly disheartened by fatigue
and hunger ; the very men who had fought uncomplainingly a few
weeks before, as indeed they would do again when their confidence
and spirits were restored, had become more incapacitated by the
terrible condition of the roads than by a battle.
When the papers of January 20 reached us, the first item about
the Army of the Potomac that caught our eyes was headed, " A
DESPERATE STRUGGLE IS EVIDENTLY CLOSE AT HAND, AND STIRRING
NEWS MAY BE EXPECTED SHORTLY." The " Mud march " was finished,
and we could gaze on this announcement with unruffled tempers,
being in a thankful mood. Our experience suggested that this might
be a witticism, for the struggle through the mud was both stirring
and desperate. In the papers of the 19th the statement was made :
" On to Richmond again ! — It is now deemed certain that General
Burnside is by this time across the river, and the rebels are skedad-
dling inland." " Brag " is a good dog, but " Hold Fast " is a better.
Some of the boys suggested that these papers be sent to General
Lee as an item of news, but when we thought of the disgraceful
predicament we had been in, squirming about in the mud like so
many eels, we concluded not to do so.
It was when Burnside took command of the Army of the Potomac
that we first saw the " Butterfly cavalry," a regiment from New
Jersey, clothed with a uniform of such gorgeousness that " Solomon
in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." The jacket was
elaborately and fantastically adorned with yellow cord, and buttons
in numerous rows down the front, up the back, around the collar, and
along the sleeves, so that the wearer appeared as though he had
robbed a United States mint. The trousers were slashed to the knee,
like those often worn by Mexicans, and were also trimmed with a pro-
fusion of cord and buttons. The hat was built like the shako, only
192 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. it lacked the visor to complete the likeness, and was lib-
erally decked with tassels and cord. " Button, button !
Who has the button ? " was the cry that saluted their ears when they
made their appearance. As each man carried a lance with a red
pennant attached, they would have made a conspicuous mark for the
enemy had they been called upon to do any fighting. Bedizened as
they were with metallic buttons that tinkled when they moved, these
men were of no use as vedettes, where absolute stillness is often re-
quired ; so some of them were assigned for duty as a body-guard to
General Burnside, and the remainder as a provost-guard, to drive
along the men who straggled on the march. During this " Mud
march " campaign they had plenty of work to do in keeping the men
together, and they attempted it so energetically and so offensively
that instead of " Butterfly cavalry " they were henceforth hailed as
"Turkey-drivers," and whenever they appeared shouts of " Gobble,
gobble, gobble ! " would be heard from one regiment after another
as they passed along. There was no end to the ridicule and sarcasm
that was showered upon them by the whole army, until they changed
their brilliant uniform for the more appropriate one worn by the
cavalry corps. Shortly after this campaign they became part of the
cavalry corps under Custer and others, and probably did good service.
General Burnside having requested to be relieved from
Monday, the command of the Army of the Potomac, the following
January 26. ^^der was issued :
General ORnERSi Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
No. 9. / Camp near Falmouth, Va.
Jan. 26, 1863.
By direction of the President of the United States, the Commanding General
this day transfers the command of this army to Maj.-Gen. Joseph Hooker.
The short time that he has directed your movements has not been fruitful of
victory or any considerable advancement of our lines, but it has again demon-
strated an amount of courage, patience, and endurance that under more favorable
circumstances would have accomplished great results. Continue to exercise these
virtues, be true in your devotion to your country and the principles you have
sworn to maintain, give to the brave and skilful general who has so long been
identified with your organization and who is now to command you, your full and
cordial support and cooperation, and you will deserve success.
In taking an affectionate leave of the entire army, from which he separates with
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 193
1863. so much regret, he may be pardoned if he bids an especial farewell
to his long tried associates of the Ninth Corps.
His prayers are that God may be with you, and grant you continual success
until the rebellion is crushed.
By command of Major-General Burnside,
LEWIS RICHMOND,
Assistant Adjutant- General,
The following remarkable letter from President Lincoln needs no
explanation, though it seems strange that General Hooker should
have taken pride in it, as it is said he did :
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D.C, Jan. 26, 1863.
Major-General Hooker:
General : I have placed you at the head of the Army of the Potomac. Of
course I have done this upon what appears to me to be sufficient reasons, and yet I
think it best for you to know that there are some things in regard to which I am not
quite satisfied with you. I believe you to be a brave and skilful soldier, which, of
course, X like. I also believe you do not mix politics with your profession, in which
you are right. You have confidence in yourself, which is a valuable, if not an in-
dispensable quality. You are ambitious, which, within reasonable bounds, does
good rather than harm ; but I think that, during General Burnside's command of
the army, you have taken counsel of your ambition, and thwarted him as much as
you could, in which you did a great wrong to the country and to a meritorious
and honorable brother officer. I have heard, in such a way as to believe it, of your
recently saying that both the army and the government needed a dictator. Of course
it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. Only
those generals who gain successes can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is
military success, and I will risk the dictatorship. The government will support you
to the utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and
will do for all commanders. I much fear that the spirit which you have aided to
infuse into the army, of criticising their commander and withholding confidence
from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you as far as I can to put it
down. Neither you nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out
of an army while such a spirit prevails in it. And now beware of rashness. Be-
ware of rashness, but with energy and a sleepless vigilance go forward and give us
victories.
Yours very truly,
A. LINCOLN.
A good deal of confidence was restored by the appointment of
General Hooker — or " Fighting Joe," as the boys called him.
194 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. Once more we were in receipt of papers, and as they
covered the time we were absent from camp we learned
that the right and left wings of our army were in motion. The papers
announced on the 2 2d the following : " Highly important if true ! —
Rumors of a terrible battle on the Rappahannock ! — Rebels out-
flanked by Sumner ! — General Hooker mortally wounded ! — Gen-
eral Burnside again crossed the Rappahannock and a terrible battle is
being fought." Yes, a terrible battle with " mud " had been fought,
but as to the rest. Dame Rumor lied, as she frequently does. However,
newspapers always brought us something to talk about. Very little
the rank and file knew about movements of the army except what
was learned through the newspapers. There were occasions, to be
sure, when men of average intelligence could guess very near the
truth when opportunities were offered for observation, but generally
we knew little about what another corps in our army might be doing
until we saw it recorded in the papers. Once in a while a cor-
respondent would visit us, when we were sure to be written up, and
as the accounts were generally favorable we were pleased when they
appeared. As the larder of a private soldier was not extensive, we
left their entertainment to the officers. Our impression is, the officers
did their hospitable work well.
During the winter we had the same variety of weather as prevails
in New England, — snowing and freezing followed by rain and
thawing. When the ground was not frozen it was mud more than
ankle-deep, making the roads almost impassable. On the 2 2d of
February we had a severe snow-storm, the snow being three feet
deep in some places. The horses suffered more than the men.
It was while encamped at Fletcher's Chapel that we received the
first order respecting corps badges, a description of which will be
seen by the following circular :
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
March 21, 1863.
For the purpose of ready recognition of cofps and divisions of the army, and
to prevent injustice by reports of straggling and misconduct through mistake as
to their organizations, the chief quartermaster will furnish, without delay, the
following badges to be worn by the officers and enlisted men of all regiments of
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 195
1863. the various corps mentioned. They will be securely fastened upon
the centre of the top of the cap. The inspecting officers will at all
inspections see that these badges are worn as designated.
First Corps — a sphere : red for the First Division ; white for the Second ; blue
for the Third.
Second Corps — a trefoil: red for the First Division; white for the Second;
blue for the Third.
Third Corps — a lozenge : red for the First Division; white for the Second; blue
for the Third.
Fifth Corps — a Maltese cross: red for the First Division; white for the Second ;
blue for the Third.
Sixth Corps — across: red for the First Division; white for the Second; blue
for the Third. (Light Division, green.)
Eleventh Corps — a crescent ; red for the First Division; white for the Second ;
blue for the Third.
Twelfth Corps — a star : red for the First Division; white for the Second; blue
for the Third.
The sizes and colors will be according to pattern.
By command of Major-General Hooker,
S. WILLIAMS,
Acting Adjutant- General.
The division was reviewed by General Hooker to-day.
Thursday, He was good enough to pay the Thirteenth a compli-
April 2. ment, requesting the colonel to repeat it to us. It
served to strengthen the good-will we already held for
him, and made us long for an opportunity to show him that we
could act as well as we appeared.
From this time to the last of April we continued in camp at
Fletcher's Chapel, attending to the usual routine of duties incident
to camp life, such as guard- mounting, drilling, inspection, outpost
duty, cutting and drawing wood, and fetching water. As a good deal
of the wood had been cut away near us, we were obliged, before
winter was over, to go nearly half a mile down the stream for a
supply, lugging it on our shoulders to camp. The camp was situated
on a point of land east of the residence of a Mr. Bowie, between
two small streams running north and uniting a few hundred yards
beyond. We had reviews by General Robinson and occasionally by
other ofBcers. On such occasions we shined and brushed up, that
we might make as good an impression as possible. For amusement,
196 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMT.
1863. advertisements were inserted in some of the Northern
papers, asking for correspondence with some young lady
of matrimonial inclinations ; to which the first mail brought about a
peck of answers that were distributed among the boys. The same
thing was done the previous winter while we were encamped at Wil-
liamsport. At that time answers came by the bushel. It was as-
tonishing how many young women were so inclined. We got a good
deal of fun out of this, which offset the disappointment that was
experienced in "poker."
Ovens were built for baking bread, so that we lived on "soft-
bread ; " the size of each loaf being such that one was a day's ration
of bread to each man. A single oven furnished the bread for a brigade,
and was built as follows : Having first levelled and smoothed a place
about eight or ten feet square, two half cylinders of sheet iron, four
feet in diameter at the base line, were placed on the spot prepared,
one end of the cylinder having a chimney attached. These semi-
cylinders were short, so that you could lengthen or shorten your oven
by attaching or detaching extra cylinders, the size of the oven
depending on the number of men to be provided for. Having got
the ovens in place, they were then covered with a foot or two of
earth. By this means the men were provided with fresh bread each
day. The bread was good while it was new, and made an agreeable
change. A great improvement was noticed at this time in all our
rations. In addition to this, we had condensed milk and other
luxuries from the sutler, and occasionally boxes from home. Fresh
meat was provided, and if you could make a deal with the butcher,
you might secure a beefs liver or a heart ; but as these were his
perquisites, only the wealthy — men successful at poker — lived on
liver, as the demand far exceeded the supply. The last week in
February the chaplain arrived from Boston, bringing news and letters.
As he came into camp the boys crowded round him shouting, " What
came ye out for to see?" It amused the chaplain that we should
recollect his old text. His joyous nature always brought a lot of sun-
light into camp when he returned from one of his trips away.
Whether or not it was due to General Hooker, we are unable to
say, though he was credited with it, an improvement in the quantity
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 197
1863. and quality of our rations was noticeable upon his taking
command. The harsh criticisms that were excited under
Bumside by the tormenting pangs of an empty stomach were now
undergoing the mellowing influence of abundance, which added very
much to Hooker's popularity, always strong in the Army of the Poto-
mac, with whom he was very much of a hero. The Army of the
Potomac, while under Bumside, had become so demoralized by short
rations and the severity of the " Mud march " campaign, that deser-
tions were of daily occurrence, as we noticed by the list of names
that were read at dress parade. To offset this complaint a liberal
number of furloughs were granted and with better rations confidence
was soon restored.
Up to this time the ofificers had been allowed to retain wall tents,
but the following order deprived them of that luxury and forced them
into shelter tents. Opportunity had been afforded them from time
to time, by non-arrival of the regimental wagons, to test their grace-
fulness in diving into a shelter.
Headquarters Thirteenth Mass. Vols.,
April 1, 1863.
Company commanders, in accordance with previous orders, will turn into the
A. B. Q. M., on or before 11 A.M., April 2d, all wall tents, flies and poles, and
all other surplus camp and garrison equipage.
One shelter tent will be furnished to each commissioned officer.
Transportation (for line officers) will be furnished for five-mess kits only.
Rations, cooking utensils, and all other appurtenances of each mess must be
properly packed in one case not larger than a hard-bread box.
Trunks will not be carried, neither blankets nor shelter tents, on wagons.
Company books and blanks will be well packed in strong boxes and distinctly
marked — the boxes to be of the size of company clothing books, and not over five
inches deep in the clear.
The pack mules will carry one shelter tent, two wool and one rubber blanket
for each officer, also (if possible) the officer's rations needed on the march.
Transportation to Washington will be furnished for all surplus private baggage,
under charge of an officer detailed from the brigade.
The government still retained confidence in the private soldier's
determination not to carry more than he wanted.
198 THSEE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. The First Army Corps was to-day reviewed by Presi-
Thursday, (jgjjt Lincoln, Secretary Stanton, and others. At an
^" ^' early hour the regiment moved down below Belle Plain
Landing, toward the Potomac, and formed in line on a
large meadow skirting the river. Very soon other divisions and
brigades arrived. While waiting for the reviewing party we had a
game of ball, to the no small amusement of the lookers-on. Others
strolled down to the river, until at last the beating of drums hurried
us all back, and very soon we were all in line at " present arms."
Though motionless as a board fence, our eyes were following the
motions of " Old Abe." The President was not a handsome man as
the world judges " good looks," but he was a man of such abundant
honesty, such kindness of heart and simpUcity of manners, that one
forgot his appearance in the great qualities of the man himself. His
presence inspired more confidence among the soldiers than all the
generals put together, and every man felt better for having seen him.
The Thirteenth had the right of the line, and was therefore the
first to march by the President. We appreciated a place so con-
spicuous, and every man, as he marched along, did his best to merit
the approbation the regiment received.
As we marched past the reviewing-stand, we noticed the affection-
ate and pleasing manner of Mr. Lincoln, as he was instructing his
young son, "Tad," who was mounted on a pony beside him, how to
return the salute of the officers who were marching in line.
Having passed the reviewing-stand we were ordered to " double-
quick," and then wheeled to the left and halted. An opportunity
was thus afforded to watch the measured tread of the long line
that followed us. It was a grand and inspiring sight, and one long
to be remembered.
After the review was ended the regiment was sent out on picket.
When the newspapers containing an account of the review reached
camp a few days after, it was a pretty poor soldier of our regiment
that didn't feel a thrill of pleasure on reading the following :
In the grand review of the First Army Corps, yesterday, the Twelfth and
Thirteenth Massachusetts regiments elicited high commendations by the precision
of their movements.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 199
1863. This was a hard day's work for us, as we had a long
march to the reviewing-point, then back to camp, where
we arrived late in the afternoon, and afterward a good distance
farther to the picket line, where we went on picket duty for twenty-
four hours.
The division was reviewed to-day by its commander,
Friday, Gen. John C. Robinson, and other distinguished officers.
April 13. Wg Tpere notified in advance that this was to be an unus-
ual occasion, so the boys shined their buttons, brushed
their coats, blacked their boots, and last but not least, adorned them-
selves with paper collars purchased from the sutler. This prinking
which the boys indulged in occasionally, just to remind them of days
gone by, and which gave the regiment the sobriquet of " Band-box
guard," reached the ears of Colonel Coulter, of the Eleventh Pennsyl-
vania, who was bound to have a little fun at the regiment's expense.
Now it happened that " Dick " Coulter was the owner of a brindle
bulldog called " Sally," who was famous throughout the brigade for
her intelligence, and had a habit of sticking close to the colonel's
heels when not restrained. On this occasion she was decked with a
white paper collar round her neck labelled " 13," and a white glove
fastened on each paw. During the whole of the ceremony " Sally"
trotted about in plain sight, a most ludicrous object, affording a deal
of amusement to all who witnessed it. In spite of this ridicule the
regiment made a fine appearance, and received the praise of Gen-
eral Reynolds, who liked neatness and orderly appearance in the
soldier.
200 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
CHAPTER X.
1863. Broke camp and marched in a drizzling rain seven
Tuesday, miles toward the Rappahannock, halting within a mile or
April 28. ^^ ^j j.|^g j.j^gj. ^,gjjjn^ a piece of woods. We were full of
surmises as to where we were going, though it turned out
to be the Chancellorsville campaign. For a while the papers dropped
"All quiet on the Potomac," and substituted " On to Richmond."
Orders were received from General Hooker for the men to take
eight days' rations. We had frequently carried five days' rations,
but this was the first time we were called upon to lug a quantity like
that. The consequence was that the overflow from our haversacks
was stowed away in the knapsacks.
At 2 o'clock this morning we were turned out, and by
Wednesday, four were moved out of the woods about half a mUe and
April 29. halted in an open field. Heavy firing was heard up the
river, in front and below. While we remained here a
band of ninety-one rebel prisoners were marched by us, in appear-
ance more like tramps than soldiers. They were captured by the
first division of our corps. At 1 2 o'clock we were marched out in
full view of the river. From our elevated position could be seen the
whole plain where we fought on the 13th of December. The position
occupied by us then was now held by the Sixth Corps, and a mile
below could be seen the first division of the First Corps, their arms
gleaming in the sunlight, while the open field in front was dotted
with skirmishers lying low, to present as small a mark as possible to
the enemy. On a house opposite could be seen the Union sharp-
shooters, their heads peeping over the ridge-pole. It was a beauti-
ful day, the air balmy with the warm rays of the sun, which was shin-
ing brightly on this warlike scene. We watched with interest the
second and third brigades as they filed down to the pontoon bridge,
where they halted and stacked arms.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 201
1863. National Fast day. Until 9 o'clock the heavy fog clung
Thursday, ^.^ jj^g j-iygr, obscuring everything from sight. Firing was
^" ^°' heard to the right in the vicinity of United States Ford,
where the main portion of the army crossed. About
noon we were summoned to "attention," and then, by brigades,
closed en masse on the first brigade ; after which General Hooker's
famous bulletin was read, saying that " the operations on the right
had been a series of splendid successes, and that the enemy must
leave his intrenchments and fight or ingloriously retreat," etc. Some
cheering was given among the new troops, but the older ones were
cautious about being too jubilant. Ranks were then broken, and the
men collected in groups to discuss the bulletin or to drop asleep.
An hour or so passed when a heavy report was heard in front, and
suddenly a shell came whizzing through the air' to our right. All
was bustle in a moment ; each man making for his place in the ranks,
putting on his equipments as he ran. Then another shell came
striking on the river, throwing up the spray which glistened in the
sunlight, reflecting the colors of the rainbow, and then bounding
along the plain into the ranks of the bucktails of the third
division. Another struck near General Robinson's headquarters,
while his men were striking tents. Another struck in the
ranks of the Ninetieth Pennsylvania, tossing arms, equipments,
and fragments of clothing, and possibly human bodies, in the
air, in wild disorder. General Robinson's staff were mount-
ing in hot haste, while batteries, now unlimbered, were re-
plying. The Thirteenth was lying on the ground, some asleep, some
playing cards, while others were intently watching the effect of the
shells as they burst in the midst of other troops, quite well satisfied
to be out of immediate danger, when a shell suddenly burst among
us, and caps, haversacks, clothing, in a confused mass, were seen
to fly out from the centre of the explosion. When the smoke
cleared away, we found three mangled and bleeding bodies, — two
commissioned officers and a sergeant. The officers were both
dead, and the sergeant, whose body was hastily taken to the rear,
was so badly injured as to necessitate the amputation of an arm
and a leg. The regiment was ordered to the bluffs in the rear,
202 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. where there was a road with an embankment, by which
some protection was afforded, though the shells were
flying through the air thick and fast. In the two divisions exposed
to the fire, eight or ten were killed and between forty and fifty were
wounded, without a shot being returned by any of our troops except
the artillery.
Yesterday we laid quiet all day undisturbed, except
Saturday, when batteries of artillery would gallop by us on the road
May 2. to some threatened point of the line.
At 4 o'clock this morning we were turned out by a
general alarm, and preparations made to march. When the roll was
called it was learned that we had in line 346 men, including officers.
Orders were received for the First Corps, under General Reynolds,
to take up its bridges and join General Hooker by way of United
States Ford, and before 9 o'clock we were on our way. It was a
beautiful day, but very hot, and the boys were full of hope and an-
ticipations of soon meeting the enemy and wiping out the disaster of
Fredericksburg. As we approached the river, the masses of fog that
enclosed its banks were moving toward the sea, while here and there
a house was peeping through the vapor as if struggling to be seen.
Very soon the plain and forest could be distinguished, and shortly all
was clear. As we came in sight of rebel batteries, they opened upon
us without doing any damage. We passed the Sixth Corps on their
way to the left — a movement made to deceive the enemy. From
time to time, as we marched along, we met squads of rebel prisoners
under the escort of Union cavalry, on their way to the rear. Tramp,
tramp all day until nearly 8 o'clock at night, when we filed down be-
tween the hills to the ford, which we crossed on pontoons, and then
half a mile farther, when, tired and weary, we gladly received the
order to halt for the night. Our bivouac fires were scarcely lighted
and preparations made for sleep when the drums were sounded,
followed by orders to "/a// in ! " and then "f-o-r-w-a-r-d, march >"
and at a good round pace we started for Chancellorsville, wondering
what had happened to necessitate this sudden change in our pro-
gramme. Something serious, for mounted officers were hurrying
about with orders urging forward the troops. We had not long to
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 203
1863. wait, however, before we got some idea of the disaster
which had overtaken the army. Very soon we saw men
of the Eleventh Corps hurrying to .the rear, many of them panic-
stricken with fear. Orders were received to drive back to the front
all men who were not wounded. We knew so little beyond the
sphere of our duty, that it was impossible to understand what the re-
treat of the Eleventh Corps betokened, or what influence it might
have on the fortunes of the Army of the Potomac. We had
crossed the river with great hopes, a well- organized army, with such
perfect confidence in our leaders, that what we now saw seemed
surprising, and we were eager to know the meaning. The wildest
confusion prevailed. Staff-officers and messengers were excitedly
shouting to clear the road, that they might not be obstructed in their
duties, or their haste impeded. " JIaU, there ! " " Where in h — 1
are you going?" was frequently heard, followed by "Turn back,
you cowards ! " While all this excitement was going on in the road,
at each side was seen the equipment and supplies of a great army
huddled together in bewildering disorder as if suddenly dumped from
the sky. Ammunition wagons, hospital supplies, wagons loaded with
food, horses and mules inextricably mixed, gun-carriages, black-
smith's forges, pontoons, all packed together, while the men in charge,
tired and weary, were lying unblanketed, their feet to smouldering
fires, dead with sleep, insensible to the heavy roll of artillery or the
tramp of infantry. It was a strange sight and a new experience to
the Thirteenth, which had never before been in the wake of an army
engaged in battle. Long years have not obliterated the impressions
of that night. Along the road it was pandemonium ; on the side of
the road it v/as chaos.
Presently the sound of musketry was heard, and in a little while
three Yankee cheers were heard, denoting successful resistance to a
charge of the enemy, whereupon the boys started " GJory, Hallelu-
jah ! " which passed along from brigade to brigade until the whole
corps, apparently, were singing this stirring old war-song. Way was
made for the ambulances, hurrying forward to bring off the wounded.
It was evident we were nearing the line of battle, when an order was
received to change our direction, which we did by turning sharp to
204 THREE YEARS IST THE ARMY.
1863. the right toward the EUey's Ford road, which we reached
about 2 A.M. and halted, twenty-two hours after we were
turned out in the morning, having marched about thirty miles. In
spite of the efforts of officers to clear the road, our advance had been
slow and tiresome. Notwithstanding fatigue and weariness, we began
at once to build earthworks, as every man felt that his own safety as
well as that of the army might soon be at stake. Knives, bayonets,
plates, and dippers were enlisted, and by continuous activity sub-
stantial breastworks were completed when daylight appeared.
After the publicity we have given to the flight of the Eleventh
Corps, and the remarks that were made to some of them on the
way to the rear, it is no more than justice to quote the following
statement from General Doubleday's narrative of the battle of Chan-
cellorsville, with which statement we are in hearty accord :
It is always convenient to have a scape-goat in case of disaster, and the Ger-
man element in the Eleventh Corps have been fiercely censured and their name
a byword for giving way on this occasion. It is full time justice should be done by
calling attention to the position of that corps. I assert that when a force is not
deployed, but is struck suddenly and violently on its flank, resistance is irn-
practicahle. Not Napoleon's Old Guard, not the best and bravest troops that
ever existed, could hold together in such a case, for the first men assailed are —
to use a homely but expressive word — driven into a hitddle ; and a huddle can-
not fight, for it has no front and no organization. Under such circumstances, the
men have but a choice of two evils, — either to stay where they are and be
slaughtered, without power of defending themselves, or to run; and the only
sensible thing for them to do is to run, and rally on some other organization.
The following graphic statement of our doings and position at this
time is also taken from General Doubleday's narrative of ChanceU
lorsville :
At sunset the First Corps went into bivouac on the south side of United States
Ford, about four miles and a half from Chancellorsville. The men were glad
enough to rest after their tedious march on a hot day, loaded with eight days'
rations. General Reynolds left me temporarily in charge of the corps, while
he rode on to confer with Hooker. We heard afar off the sound of battle
caused by Jackson's attack, and saw the evening sky reddened with the fires of
combat; but knowing Hooker had a large force, we felt no anxiety as to the result,
and took it for granted that we should not be wanted until the next day. I was
preparing ^ piece of india-rubber cloth as a couch when I saw one of Reynolds'
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 205
1863. aids, Captain Wadsworth, coming down the road at full speed. He
brought the startling news that the Eleventh Corps had fled, and if
y/e did not go at once, the array would be hopelessly defeated. We were soon on
the road, somewhat oppressed by the news, but not dismayed. We marched
through the thickening twilight of the woods, amid a silence at first only broken
by the plaintive song of the whippoorwill, until the full moon rose in all its splendor.
As we proceeded we came upon crowds of the Eleventh Corps fugitives still
hastening to the rear. They seemed wholly disheartened. We halted for a time,
in order that our position in line of battle might be selected, and then moved on.
As we approached the field a midnight battle commenced, and the shells seemed
to burst in sparkles in the trees above our heads, but not near enough to reach ns.
It was Sickles fighting his way home again. When we came nearer and filed
to the right to take our position on the EUey's Ford road, the men struck up the
John Brown's song, and gave the chorus with a will. The cheerful demeanor and
proud bearing renewed the confidence of the army, who felt that the arrival of
Reynolds' corps, with its historic record, was no ordinary reenforcement.
All day long we remained quiet in the earthworks
Sunday, constructed by us in such haste, wondering at our
May 3. inactivity. The enthusiasm of the First Corps had
become so excited by what it had seen and by the fears
of an impending disaster to the army, that it was eager to take an
active part in the battle, the sound of which could be plainly heard.
Nor was there a general in the Army of the Potomac better able to
lead it to victory than its commander, Gen. John F. Reynolds, who
was regarded by his corps with enthusiastic admiration; but the
laurels reserved for the First Corps, under his command, were to be
won elsewhere.
During the day General Hooker rode along the line and was
everywhere received with shouts of enthusiasm.
As there were no indications of an attack to be made
Monday, on our line, a reconnoissance was made by the Twelfth
May 4. and Thirteenth Massachusetts regiments, and the Second
Maine Battery, under the command of General Robinson,
with orders not to bring on an engagement. After marching half a
mile to the front, a halt was ordered, and four companies of infantry
were deployed as skirmishers, when the column slowly advanced.
The rebels being sheltered in the woods and thick underbrush, could
not be seen. In this attempt seven men of the Thirteenth were
206 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. wounded, one of whom died a few days after.. It having
been demonstrated by this movement that the enemy were
still in force at this point, we returned to the earthworks.
During the night the regiment was several times called to arms,
while attacks were being made and repulsed on our right.
Another day spent in the trenches. The weather was
Tuesday, excessively hot until about 3 P.M., when a thunder-
May 5. shower came up and drenched us to the skin. As the
water poured into the trenches we were forced to evac-
uate them until we could make them habitable by draining. As
darkness came on, the showers were succeeded by a cold north-east
storm, and through the long dreary night we sat on the edge of the
trenches, ready to jump into them at the first alarm. Orders were
received about 8 P.M. to retreat, and we marched about three miles
when information was received that the river had risen to such a
height as to make it impracticable for the army to cross ; so we
marched back to the trenches, where we remained until 3 o'clock in
the morning.
Whatever the hereafter may have in store for us as punishment for
our misdemeanors, we sincerely trust that credit may be given for
this night of misery. In the three years' service of the regiment
it would be difficult to recall a night that seemed longer or where
there was more physical discomfort. Wearied and dejected, drenched
with the cold rain, in expectation to move at any moment, we still
stayed and stayed and stayed.
While we were in the trenches, information was received that
Stonewall Jackson was killed. It used to be a common saying in the
Army of the Potomac that in order to reach Richmond we should have
to go " over a Stonewall, two Hills, and a Longstreet." Something
had therefore been accomplished for the Union cause by the battle
of Chancellorsville, — we had got over the " Stonewall." The celerity
with which General Jackson could move an army from one point to
another was remarkable, and up to the time of his death his equal as
an executive officer had not been seen. As an instance of his activ-
ity we recall, when we were at Front Royal, watching his army march-
ing along the mountain- side between the armies of McDowell and
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 207
1863. Fremont, unmolested, — except for the feeble attack
made by Shields, — and on the following morning at day-
light attacking McClellan at Hanover Court House, an air-line dis-
tance of more than ninety miles, as we learned by the newspapers
two days after the event. It seemed incredible to us at the time,
yet it was a fact.
Orders came at last to move. At 3 A.M. we took up
Monday, the line of march on muddy roads that were both
May 6. sticky and sUppery, to the United States Ford, five miles,
where we were to cross the river. Moving was better
than sitting still and shaking to pieces with the cold ; but to walk on
a road ankle-deep in mud, with the rain still falling, failed to lessen
our misery very much. We finally reached the river without halting
once, crossed on a pontoon bridge covered with pine boughs to
deaden the sound, and then continued five miles farther, and halted.
It was impossible to light fires, so the men munched their hardtack
and raw pork, and lighted their pipes for a smoke. Some of the boys
attempted sleep by sitting on knapsacks with their backs to a tree,
only to tumble over in the mud when sleep overtook them. After
falling into the mud a few times, a man's appearance was so ludicrous
that even the most miserable could not restrain their laughter. It is
under such circumstances as these that the elasticity of youth is so
valuable. A man of fifty would have given up in despair. Little by
little the spirit of fun was revived. Jokes on each other's appear-
ance were bandied about, and songs at variance with our condition
were sung with impromptu words. The irresistible desire for fun
which possessed so many of the boys, often had a very bracing effect
and restored some of the good-humor we had lost in the trenches,
by which we escaped the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's
back.
The march was continued to Falmouth, nine miles farther, where
we halted, and where we pitched our shelters for the night. A
ration of whiskey was given each man, and then we wrapped our-
selves in our wet clothes and blankets, and laid down to sleep. Dur-
ing the night the rain came in such torrents that we were completely
flooded out. Every article we owned was soaked with water, and of
208 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. course further sleep was out of the question. This was
the time for Mark Tapley with his " Let us be jolly ! "
The following congratulatory orders by Generals Hooker and Lee,
respecting the battle of Chancellorsville, will be read with interest by
all who took part in that campaign :
General Orders, 1
No. 49. J Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 6, 1863.
The Major-General commanding tenders to this army his congratulations on its
achievements of the last seven days. If it has not accomplished all that was ex-
pected, the reasons are well known to the army. It is sufficient to say they were
of a character not to be foreseen or prevented by human sagacity or resource.
In withdrawing from the south bank of the Rappahannock before delivering a
general battle to our adversaries, the army has given renewed evidence of its con-
fidence in itself and its fidelity to the principles it represents. In fighting at a
disadvantage, we would have been recreant to our trust, to ourselves, our cause,
and our country.
Profoundly loyal, and conscious of its strength, the Army of the Potomac will
give or decline battle whenever its interest or honor may demand. It will also
be the guardian of its own history and its own fame.
By celerity and secrecy of movement, our advance and passage of the rivers
were undisputed, and on our withdrawal not a rebel ventured to follow.
The events of the last week may swell with pride the heart of every officer and
soldier of this army. We have added new lustre to its renown. We have made
long marches, crossed rivers, surprised the enemy in hisintrenchments, and when-
ever we have fought have inflicted heavier blows than we have received.
We have taken from the enemy five thousand prisoners ; captured and brought
off seven pieces of artillery, fifteen colors; placed hors de combat eighteen thou-
sand of his chosen troops ; destroyed his depots filled with vast amounts of stores;
deranged his communications; captured prisoners within the fortifications of his
capital, and filled his country with fear and consternation.
We have no other regret than that caused by the loss of our brave companions,
and in this we are tonsoled by the conviction that they have fallen in the holiest
cause ever submitted to the arbitrament of battle.
By command of Major-General Hooker,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
General Orders, 1
No. 59. J Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
May 7, 1863.
With heartfelt gratification the General commanding expresses to the army his
sense of the heroic conduct displayed by officers and men during the arduous
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 209
1863. operations in which they have just been engaged. Under trying
vicissitudes of heat and storm you attacked the enemy, strongly in-
trenched in the depths of a tangled wrilderness, and again on the hills of Freder-
icksburg, fifteen miles distant, and, by valor that has triumphed on so many fields,
forced him once more to seek safety beyond the Rappahannock. While this
glorious victory entitles you to the praise and gratitude of the nation, vce are
especially called upon to return our grateful thanks to the only Giver of victory
for the signal deliverance He has wrought. It is, therefore, earnestly recom-
mended that the troops unite on Sunday next in ascribing to the Lord of Hosts
the glory due unto His name.
Let us not forget in our rejoicing the brave soldiers who have fallen in defence
of their country; and, while we mourn their loss, let us resolve to emulate their
noble example.
The army and the country alike lament the absence for a time of one to whose
bravery, energy, and skill they are so much indebted for success.
The following letter from the President of the Confederate States is communi-
cated to the army, as an expression of his appreciation of its success :
" [General Lee : I have your despatch, and reverently unite in giving praise
to God for the success vidth which He has crowned our arms.
" In the name of the people I offer my cordial thanks to yourself and the
troops under your command for this addition to the unprecedented series of great
victories which your armies have achieved.
" The universal rejoicing produced by this happy result will be mingled with a
general regret for the good and the brave who are remembered among the killed
and the wounded.] "
R. E. LEE,
Genera!.
When daylight appeared we were sore in body and
Thursday, sick at heart as we thought with mortification how little
May 7. had been accomplished since leaving our camp at
Fletcher's Chapel. When we recalled the golden promises
of Hooker's manifesto, in which was stated the splendid successes
that awaited us, " that the enemy must leave his intrenchments and
fight or ingloriously retreat," etc., some of the boys said, " Yes, that's
Joe Hooker. Let's have a new deal for a commander."
We had a ray of comfort in the weather, which again became
warm and pleasant. This was really something to be thankful for.
About 10 o'clock we marched to White Oak Church, seven miles,
and camped about a mile from our winter quarters, at Fletcher's
Chapel.
210 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863.
Washington, June 5, 1863, 4 P.M.
Major-General Hooker:
Youis of to-day was received an hour ago. So much of professional military
skill is requisite to answer it, that 1 have turned the task over to General Halleck.
He promises to perform it with his utmost care, I have but one idea which I
think worth suggesting to you, and that is, in case you find Lee coming to the
north of the Rappahannock, I would by no means cross to the south of it. If he
should leave a rear force at Fredericksburg, tempting you to fall upon it, it would
fight in intrenchments, and have you at a disadvantage, and Sb, man for man,
worst you at that point, while his main force wouUl in some way be getting an
advantage of you northward. In one word, I would not take any risk of being
entangled upon the river, like an ox jumped half over a fence and liable to be
torn by dogs in front and rear, without a fair chance to gore one way or kick the
other. If Lee would come to my side of the river I would keep on the same side,
and fight him or act on the defence, according as might be my estimate of his
strength relatively to my own. But these are mere suggestions, which I desire to
be controlled by the judgment of yourself and General Halleck.
A. LINCOLN.
S-Y,k.'Y A N ) A
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THIRTEENTH 3IASS. VOLS. 211
CHAPTER XI.
1863. We remained in camp in this vicinity until June 12.
During this time the regiment was engaged in the usual
camp routine of drills, reviews, inspection, and parades, besides
doing our share of the picket duty along the north bank of the
Rappahannock River, the enemy's pickets being on the south bank,
within easy hearing distance.
On the 2d of May the regiment was transferred from the third to
the second brigade in the same division under command of General
Robinson ; General Reynolds continuing in command of the First
Army Corps. Our associates in the second brigade were the One
Hundred and Fourth New York, the Sixteenth Maine, and the One
Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania regiments. The Eleventh Penn-
sylvania was subsequently transferred to the same brigade, to our
very great pleasure. All this time active preparations were being
made for another campaign, while we freely discussed the compe-
tency of generals, planned campaigns, and patiently waited for an
order from Washington to take connmand of the army. As time
rolled on, and the price of recruits advanced, we learned that the
Government felt that we were doing too good a service in the ranks
to be transferred to the head of an army. The wishes of the
Government were not to be lightly set aside, so we continued to tote
a knapsack and gun, though we yearned occasionally for the comfort-
able quarters of a major-general.
So much complaint was made about carrying out the order of
March 21st, respecting the wearing of badges, that on the 12 th of
May General Hooker issued an prder containing the following
paragraphs :
The badges worn by the troops, when lost or torn off, must be immediately
replaced.
212 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. Provost marshals will arrest as stragglers all other troops (but
those designated as being without badges) found without badges,
and return them to their commander under guard.
From this time on the corps badge was universally worn, and
proved a great convenience, besides exciting a feeUng of pride
among the men.
From time to time fears were entertained at headquarters that the
enemy were intending to cross the river, and orders were received
to move, but were countermanded in season to prevent us from
marching.
We received about this time a lot of books and pamphlets from
home, collected by some kind friends who were not forgetful of our
wants. They afforded us a good deal of pleasure, and helped to wear
away the depression that we shared in common with the rest of the
army at our recent defeats.
General Orders,!
No. 50. J Headquarters Second Division,
First Army Corps, June 10, 1863.
I. Existing orders require a crilical inspection of companies half an hour be-
fore dress parade, the object of which is to see that men are in a proper condition
to go on parade, that the clothing and accoutrements are clean and in good order.
At dress parade of ceremony, officers and men will be required to appear in
uniform. Regimental commanders are reminded that white hats and butternut-
colored sacks form no part of the prescribed dress of a soldier, and must not be
worn on parade. Soldiers will be allowed to wear them on fatigue. The practice
of wearing boots or stockings outside of pantaloons must be suppressed on parade.
By command of
GENERAL ROBINSON.
At 4 A.M. we broke camp and marched in a westerly
Friday, direction via Stoneman's Switch on the road toward
June la. Bealton Station, following the Rappahannock River, and
bivouacking at Deep Run, a distance of twenty-five
miles. It was a scorching hot day, and the road was very dusty.
It occasionally happened, through somebody's stupidity, that troops,
by taking the wrong road, had their march considerably lengthened.
This was one of those occasions ; several miles of hard work were
squandered in consequence of being misdirected. This kind of
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 213
1863. foolishness does not sweeten the temper of a man who is
working for $13 per month. "Let not the sun go down
on your wrath," said Paul the Apostle. As the sun was already down
when our wrath was excited, we had nearly twenty-four hours to spare
before obeying this command.
A learned writer on the Holy Scriptures says : " It is acknowledged
that neither the Apostles nor Fathers have absolutely condemned
swearing, or the use of oaths, upon every occasion, and upon all sub-
jects. There are circumstances wherein we cannot morally be
excused from it ; but we never ought to swear but upon urgent
necessity, and to do some considerable good by it." According to
our ideas, instances like the one just described justified a liberal use
of " cuss words."
While we halted at noon to-day an ambulance was driven by us
containing a man who was to be shot for desertion. The man
belonged to one of the Union regiments, and during the winter
deserted to the enemy. It appears that a detachment of Union
troops while on picket saw a soldier in Union uniform acting rather
suspiciously, as if he wished to get away unnoticed ; whereupon he
was headed oif and captured by men of his own regiment, the
Nineteenth Indiana. Under his blue uniform he was found to have
a Confederate suit of gray. About him were found papers contain-
ing the numbers and locations of Union troops. He was tried by
court-martial and sentenced to be shot, and was now on his way to
take part in that rather unpleasant ceremony.
His corps was halted for an hour at Hartwood Church, where he
was taken into a field, blindfolded and tied, seated on a box that
was to be his coffin, and shot by a detail of twelve men. A certain
number of the guns were loaded without ball in order to deceive the
men into thinking that some other fellow's gun did the work. It is
an unpleasant duty at best, but the circumstances, in this case, were
particularly aggravating. When the unfortunate victim was launched
into eternity, as the newspapers say, the drums were sounded and the
bands struck up the liveliest airs ; and while his soul went marching
on, we marched on until we halted for the night, bivouacking in the
same field where we stopped last November on our way from Rappa-
214 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. hannock Station. Some of the boys expressed a curiosity
to know if it was as hot where the deserter had gone as
it was here, where we were marching.
In a cloud of dust we marched ten miles to Bealton
Saturday, Station, on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad. The
June 13. water was about as scarce as whiskey, and so bad that
something ought to have been provided to kill the
animalcula it contained.
It was evident that an army must not be hampered by
Sunday, religious principles. We wondered if Miles Standish ever
June 14. marched his army on Sundays. " In war there are no
Sundays," as Daniel Webster once remarked.
We started promptly at 8 A.M., marching through Manassas Junc-
tion and Catlett's Station, near where we were stationed a year ago,
and thence to Kettle Run, which place we reached at sunset and
where we halted for an hour to cook coffee, then resumed our march,
crossing Broad Run near Bristow Station, at the old mill, arriving at
Manassas Junction at 3.30 A.M., a distance of twenty-three miles.
All day long we were subjected to wearisome delays caused by
obstructions in the road by wagons and artillery, fording brooks
or crossing streams imperfectly bridged, until our patience was
well-nigh exhausted. When the order was given to halt, the men
dumped themselves on the damp grass, and went to sleep.
After five hours' rest we started again, marching eight
Monday, miles to Centreville, which point we reached about noon,
June 15. and where we remained until the 1 7th. The continued
northerly direction we were pursuing began to excite the
curiosity of the boys as to what was going on. As we were not in
receipt of papers nor in the confidence of General Hooker, we could
only make guesses. In the meantime we kept pegging on toward
Boston, Mass., pumping all the people collected on the road-side as
to the whereabouts of General Lee, or whether they had heard the
war was over, or that General Washington was dead. " No, massa ;
don't know nuffin at all."
" You tell General Lee we'll be back in the fall, but just now we're
going to Saratoga, where it's cooler."
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 215
1863. " Yes, massa."
The thirst for information was so great about this time
that the " camp gossips " put in a good lot of work, resulting in some
of the most ridiculous yarns ever heard in the army.
We did have ocular proof to-day that Lee's army was marching
north. When you see geese flying north, look out for warm weather ;
when you see rebels marching north, look out for warm fighting. The
country was full of guerillas, and that enterprising cutthroat, Mosby,
did a thriving business in capturing and mutilating the bodies of
Union soldiers.
The First Corps had been acting thus far on our journey as rear
guard to the army.
We remained quietly resting. The regimental sutler
Tuesday, arrived in camp, and those of us who had money or
June 16. credit proceeded at once to fill the aching void caused by
short rations and hard work. We were serenaded by the
band of the Thirty-third Massachusetts, a bit of politeness and con-
sideration that we highly appreciated. It had a good effect on the
boys, as good music always does. We would have liked mighty well to
have asked the boys to " licker," but there was " no balm in Gilead."
During the day we received the rather startling intelligence that
the Confederate army was in Maryland and prancing along toward a
cooler climate, as though they liked it. Hooker informed us that
" the enemy must leave his intrenchments and fight or ingloriously
retreat," etc., and now he was 'way north of us. If Lee had lost his
way, there was nothmg for us to do but hunt him up and put him on
the right track.
We celebrated the battle of Bunker Hill by turning out
Wednesday, at 2 o'clock in the morning to prepare for marching.
June 17. We got away by 3 and marched toward Chain
Bridge, changing our direction before arrival at that
point, and continued on to Hemdon, a distance of sixteen miles. Our
new brigadier-general was Gabriel R. Paul, whom the boys dubbed
the " Apostle." He was a brave and excellent officer.
This was so hot a day that sixty men in the corps were sunstruck.
The thermometer registered 100°.
216 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. We struck tents in the morning, expecting orders to
Thursday, ^larch ; but no orders came, and so we laid quiet, putting
June 18. .^ ^jj ^^ gjggp ^g could, which was considerable, in
spite of the burning heat of the sun, while General Lee
was amusing himself in " Maryland, my Maryland."
Marched three miles to Guilford Station, on the Lees-
Friday, burg Railroad. Everything we could dispense with was
June 19. now thrown away, even at the risk of getting in the same
condition in which St. Thomas a Becket was found when
he died, — lousy.
Guards were put on the fences to prevent our taking raUs.
About half the regiment was put on picket, and were called in dur-
ing the night, returning in a violent storm. Orders were counter-
manded, and back on picket went we. Noticing the guard had been
taken off the fences, we "hooked " a lot of rails, which we carried along
with us. " It is a sin to steal a pin, much more to steal a bigger
thing." These rails were useful, as the streams were very much
swollen by the rain, whereupon the rails were fastened together,
and used as bridges.
The following was designated by the boys as " Paul's Epistle to
his brigade : "
General Orders, 1 Headquarters First Brigade,
No. 41. J Second Division, First A. C.
June 22, 1863.
I. In order to ensure uniformity, no words of command-or forms of parade, " not
prescribed in the General Regulations or in Casey's tactics," will be allowed in
the regiments of this brigade.
II. It is expected at guard mounting and on parade and reviews the officers
and enlisted men will be neatly dressed, and their accoutrements put on in a soldier-
like manner. On parades pioneers will be in the ranks with their respective com-
panies.
The color guard will consist of one sergeant and five corporals, who will be
selected for accuracy in marching and soldier-like deportment. The companies
being numbered from right to left, the first sergeants, when they report the re-
sults of the roll-call, will say in a quick, firm tone, " First company all present,"
or " Second company three absent," and so on as the case may be.
III. Sentinels will not be permitted to sit, read, or talk on post, or to bring
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 217
1863. their pieces to the order. They will habitually walk their post,
watching vigilantly and allowing no infractions of orders.
By command of
G. R. PAUL,
Brigadier- General Commanding.
" And God wrought special miracles by the hand of Paul."
We remained at Guilford Station until June 25, engaged in such
light amusements as dress parades and brigade drills, sandwiched
with a liberal allowance of guard duty.
Information reached General Hooker that General
Thursday, Lee had crossed the Potomac at Williamsport and Shep-
June 25. herdstown, whereupon the First Corps was put in motion,
and we crossed the river into Maryland at Edward's
Ferry. Thence we marched through Poolsville, where we spent a
rainy night on Sept. 6, 1861, and then to Barnesville, where we halted
for the night, having marched about twenty miles.
We were about the first troops of the Army of the Potomac to
cross the river. Some idea of the situation of the two armies, with
relation to Gettysburg, may be obtained by bearing in mind that
Shepherdstown was twenty-four miles in an air line north-west from
our camp-ground of last night, and Williamsport thirty-six miles in
the same direction, as may be seen on referring to the map accom-
panying this chapter. Williamsport was thirty-five miles from Gettys-
burg, while Shepherdstown was forty-one miles. Our camp-ground at
Guilford Station was sixty-five miles from Gettysburg, thirty miles
farther away than Williamsport, where Lee was reported to be.
From Fredericksburg to the Potomac River the rebel army had
marched a greater distance than ours. They had an unobstructed
road, with a purpose in view ; while we were constantly delayed, not
only from our uncertainty of their movements, but the constant hin-
drance of our wagon trains, which blocked the roads for hours. It
was impossible to move faster than the wagon train could go, as
it would not do to leave our supplies behind to be captured by
Mosby or Stuart.
They had, while in Virginia, a great advantage over us in this re-
spect, as they could depend on the friendly hospitality of the coun-
218 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. try, while we were obliged not only to carry our supplies,
but to protect them. When moving in the opposite
direction, toward Richmond, we were leaving our base of supplies
while they were returning to theirs.
We were now back in Maryland among the people we met in the
summer of 186 1. It seemed pleasant once more to see smiling
faces and to be greeted with friendly words. The Union people of
Maryland were very much disturbed as to what might happen if I^e
was successful in his invasion of the Northern States. As we marched
northward, the feeling took possession of us that we were now about
to fight for our homes, and the impending battle would be one of
intensity, though we were all in the dark as to where it might be
fought. These people, whose friendly hospitality we had enjoyed
two years before, were now in danger, and they looked to the Union
army for protection, and without doubt this feeling had an influence
in the events that followed.
On General Lee's previous excursion into Maryland, during the
Antietam campaign, he issued the following circular to the people
of that State. There is no evidence in the War Records that he
treated the people of Pennsylvania with such an appeal. Possibly
he thought it was unnecessary. It is interesting as a curiosity, if
nothing more.
Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
Near Fredericktown, Md., Sept. 8th, 1862.
To the People of Maryland :
It is right that you should know the purpose that brought the array under my
command within the limits of your State, so far as the purpose concerns your-
selves. The people of the Confederate States have long watched with the
deepest sympathy the wrongs and outrages that have been inflicted upon the
citizens of a commonwealth allied to the States of the South by the strongest
social, political, and commercial ties. They have seen with profound indignation
their sister State deprived of every right, and reduced to the condition of a con-
quered province. Under the pretence of supporting the Constitution, but in
violation of its most valuable provisions, your citizens have been arrested and
imprisoned upon no charge and contrary to all forms of law. The faithful and
manly protest against this outrage made by the venerable and illustrious Mary-
lander, to whom in better days no citizen appealed for right in vain, was treated
with scorn and contempt ; the government of your chief city has been usurped
by armed strangers; your legislature has been dissolved by the unlawful arrest of
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 219
1863. its members; freedom of the press and of speech has been sup-
pressed ; words have been declared offences by an arbitrary decree
of the Federal Executive, and citizens ordered to be tried by a military commission
for what they may dare to speak. Believing that the people of Maryland pos-
sessed a spirit too lofty to submit to such a government, the people of the South
have long wished to aid you in throwing off this foreign yoke, to enable you
again to enjoy the inalienable rights of freemen, and restore independence and
sovereignty to your State. In obedience to this wish, an army has come among
you, and is prepared to assist you with the power of its arms in regaining the
rights of which you have been despoiled.
This, citizens of Maryland, is our mission so far as you are concerned. No
constraint upon your free will is intended ; no intimidation will be allowed within
the limits of this army, at least. Marylanders shall once more enjoy their ancient
freedom of thought and speech. We know no enemies among you, and will pro-
tect all, of every opinion. It is for you to decide your destiny freely and with-
out constraint. This army will respect your choice, whatever it may be; and
while the Southern people will rejoice to welcome you to your natural position
among them, they will only welcome you when you come of your own free will.
R. E. LEE,
General Commanding.
" Throwing off this foreign yoke " is good.
At 6 A.M. we marched over the Catoctin mountains to
Friday, Adamstown, through Greenfield's Mill, across Monocacy
June 26. River, and thence to Jefferson, a distance of eighteen
miles, through the rain and mud. The route was cir-
cuitous, owing to a change made in the direction of our march, by
orders from headquarters.
Marched to a mile beyond Middletown, a distance of
Saturday, eight miles for the day. As we passed through Middle-
June 27. town we were greeted with the same kindly hospitality we
met with on our previous marches through this town.
The resignation of General Hooker, which is quoted in full, was
accepted by the President :
Sandy Hook, June 27, i P.M.
Maj.-Gen. H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief:
My original instructions require me to cover Harper's Ferry and Washington.
I have now imposed upon me, in addition, an enemy in my front of more than my
number. I beg to be understood, respectfully and firmly, that I am unable to
comply with this condition with the means at my disposal, and earnestly request
that I may at once be relieved from the position I occupy.
JOSEPH HOOKER,
Major- General.
220 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. In accordance with the terms of the following com-
munication, General Meade was placed at the head of
the Army of the Potomac :
Headquarters of the Army,
Washington^ D.C., June 27, 1863.
Maj.-Gen. George G. Meade, Army of the Potomac :
General : You will receive with this the order of the President placing you in
command of the Army of the Potomac. Considering the circumstances, no one
ever received a more important command, and I cannot doubt that you will fully
justify the confidence which the Government has reposed in you.
You will not be hampered by any minute instructions from these headquarters.
Your army is free to act as you may deem proper under the circumstances as they
arise. You will, however, keep in view the important fact that the Army of the
Potomac is the covering army of Washington, as well as the army of operation
against the invading forces of the rebels. You will, therefore, manoeuvre and
fight in such a manner as to cover the capital and also Baltimore, as far as circum-
stance will admit. Should General Lee move upon either of these places, it is
expected that you will either anticipate him or arrive with him so as to give him
battle.
All forces within the sphere of your operations will be held subject to your
orders.
Harper's Ferry and its garrison are under your direct orders.
You are authorized to remove from your command, and to send from your
army, any officer or other person you may deem proper, and to appoint to com-
mand as you may deem expedient.
In fine, General, you are intrusted with all the power and authority which the
President, Secretary of War, or the General-in-Chief can confer on you, and you
may rely upon our full support.
You will keep me fully informed of all your movements, and the positions of
your own troops and those of the enemy, so far as you know.
I shall always be ready to advise and assist you to the utmost of my ability.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief.
Marched over the mountain to Frederick City, a
Sunday, distance of ten miles. These familiar scenes raised the
June 28. spirits of the regiment very high, and the old war songs
were sung with a fervor we hadn't felt for a long time.
The colonel announced to the regiment that General Meade was
to take command of the Army of the Potomac in place of General
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 221
1863. Hooker, removed ; adding, jocosely, " that we needn't be
discouraged, as we all might yet receive the same honor."
Monday, We made a forced march of twenty-six miles to
June 29. Emmitsburg, passing through the town and camping
about a mile beyond, on the Fairfax road. It rained all
day, and many of the men were obliged to march barefoot for want
of shoes.
The inhabitants brought to the roadside bread, milk, cheese, and
other eatables, which they freely dispensed to us as we passed along.
To be the recipients of such kindness from the people had a great
effect in enlivening the spirits of the boys.
While halting at Mechanicsville, a farmer and his wife were
seated in a wagon loaded with bread which they tossed to the
hungry soldiers, his wife sobbing and bemoaning the terrible fate
that awaited us. " Oh, boys, you don't know what's before you.
I'm afraid many of ye'U be dead or mangled soon, for Lee's whole
army is ahead of ye and there'll be terrible fighting." One of our
officers jumped on to the wagon to help the farmer, shouting, " Walk
up, boys, and get your rations ! Bread and tears, tears and
bread," while he tossed the loaves about. "Who takes another?"
The boys, undismayed by the old lady's prophetic words, shouted
their thanks, with " God bless you, old ,lady ! " and rousing cheers
for the old gentleman.
The people in the town of Emmitsburg were jubilant at sight of
the troops, whom they greeted with great cordiality. Without regard
to rank, everybody on horseback was greeted with " Three cheers
for the ' general ' ! " which were given with a will.
There was an irrepressible spirit of levity in the Thirteenth, and
presumably in other regiments, as there is no patent on the animal
spirits of young men. If there was any fun to be had, it was soon
found. Toward the last of our service it was hard pickings, but
still there was some one to excite laughter by a quaint saying, an apt
nickname, or innocent joke, to relieve the strain and monotony of
our daily lives. We were just as likely to get our fun out of a major-
general as we were out of ourselves. The dignity and importance
that hedged a general never affected us in the least. Every oppor-
222 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. tunity to ridicule or criticise the doings of an officer out-
side the regiment was taken advantage of by the wits and
the growlers, to excite mirth or ridicule. We were never quite satis-
fied with ourselves if we failed in fastening a nickname on a general
officer, particularly if he was a martinet, or if he presented some
peculiarity of manner or dress that suggested a name. One officer
was called " Old Crummy," another " Butter and Cheese," another
the " Apostle," and still another " Old Bowels." Nicknames were
so common among ourselves that few of the boys escaped without
one.
General Abercombie said we were " a d d impertinent lot, fit
only for the guard-house," and from his point of view perhaps he
was justified in saying so. His temper had such a beautiful feather
edge that the boys, with the thoughtlessness of youth, couldn't resist
the temptation of stirring him up just to hear him swear. If he had
been a man of calm and equable temper he would have escaped
our notice.
Just as soon as a lot of boys discover that a man takes notice of
their gibes the fun begins. You might as well stir up a hornets'
nest as to notice the remarks of young boys, as every sensible per-
son knows. We had no intention of being insubordinate, yet our
conversation was often loud enough to be heard by a passing officer,
as happened to-day on our march to Emmitsburg, while General
Robinson and his staff were sitting on a piazza taking a rest as we
went by. There was no impropriety in their doing so, and really
nothing to complain of. The boys themselves were tired out with
days of constant marching, and as we passed the house where these
officers were so comfortably sitting, one of the boys remarked with
a rather loud voice, " How they must suffer ! " Shortly afler, one of
the general's staff approached our colonel and in a very excited man-
ner said, " Colons/, your men have insulted ze genera/."
" My men ? "
" Yes, colons/, your men have insulted ze genera/."
"In what way?"
" Zay said, ' How zay must suffer ! ' "
" Well, don't they suffer? " said the colonel.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 223
1863. " I will go back and zay that you have insulted ze
genera/."
General Robinson was too sensible a man to bother with the re-
marks of tired soldiers. So long as the men made good time in
their marching, he was quite willing they should relieve their feel-
ings, even at his expense, and we never thought any worse of General
Robinson, who was an estimable officer, for taking the rest he must
have needed.
It was part of our daily life to form and express opinions about
matters and persons, and woe betide the officer who was silly enough
to notice them. In dealing with children or soldiers, which is the
same thing, it doesn't pay to have your hearing or your eyesight
too keen.
About 10 A.M. we marched back through Emmitsburg,
Tuesday, meeting the Eleventh Corps on our way, which caused us
June 30. a good deal of delay. We passed through the town out
upon the Gettysburg road about two miles, near Marsh
Creek, where we halted and stacked arms, it being asserted that the
enemy was between us and Gettysburg.
It having rained every day except Sunday since we crossed the
river, the roads were consequently very muddy.
The Eleventh Corps had been keeping along with us, but the
remainder of the army we had not seen. We enjoyed the marching
very much, in spite of our fatigue. Day after day we were met on
the way by women in front of their homes with pails of fresh water,
milk, bread, cake, and pies, which they freely distributed among us.
The following order by General Meade was this day read to the
army :
The enemy are upon our soil. The whole country now looks anxiously to this
army to deliver it from the presence of the foe. Our failure to do so will leave
us no such welcome as the swelling of millions of hearts with pride and joy at
our success would give to every soldier of this army. Homes, firesides, and
domestic altars are involved.
Corps commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier who
fails in his duty at this hour.
If there was any man in the army who remained unaffected by the
224 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. words of confidence and reliance that had been showered
upon us by the loyal people of Maryland, whose generous
hospitality had met us at every turn of the road, perhaps the closing
paragraph of this order might arouse his sluggish nature to duty.
The fact is that the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac needed no
incentive of this kind ; it had fought desperately before, when suc-
cess would have been achieved if the skill of its commanders had
been equal to the valor of the men.
When we were dismissed, the merits of this circular were freely dis-
cussed, and the boys were pretty generally of the opinion that the
sting conveyed in the closing paragraph was undeserved and un-
necessary to an army with a record for fighting such as the Army
of the Potomac had won. Later on, the boys thought it would be
rather a good idea for the rank and file to issue a manifesto to the
commander, expressing the hope that he would show more ability
and judgment than his predecessors had shown when conducting a
great battle, and above, all, avoid issuing appeals or circulars reflect-
ing the slightest doubt on the courage of the men. " Nelson expects
every man to do his duty J " were the only words of that great com-
mander to his men, and they did their duty and did it nobly. It is
often within the power of a commander to inspire his men to great
deeds by words of confidence in their courage and ability, — not by
intimidation.
The First Corps was composed, like other corps, of three divisions ;
each division taking its turn in marching at the head of the column,
as brigades also do in their respective divisions.
The First, Third, and Fifth Corps were under the immediate com-
mand of General Reynolds. The First was at Marsh Creek, the
Eleventh at Emmitsburg, and the Third at Tane3rtown, under orders
to relieve the Eleventh Corps at Emmitsburg.
THIBTEENTU MASS. VOLS. 225
CHAPTER XII.
1863. According to the official report of our adjutant, we
Wednesday, started from the camp at Marsh Creek at 6 A.M. for
■'" ^ ' Gettysburg, under no pressure of haste.
One could scarcely imagine a more peaceful scene
than this lovely valley through which the road wound its way to
Gettysburg. The slight shower which we encountered shortly after
starting, disappeared, having washed the dust from every blade of
grass and from the leaves of every tree ; the sun shone brightly
and the air was fragrant with woodland odors. On either side of the
road were thrifty farms, whose ample crops had already begun to
show the effects of the summer sun.
As we approached the town of Gettysburg, we saw on our right the
two round tops, as yet unknown to fame, though soon to be inscribed
on the indelible page of history ; while still farther along we passed
the " peach orchard " where the Third Corps so bravely fought on
the following day.
As the brigade moved leisurely along, the Thirteenth on the right,
we at last came in sight of the church-steeples of Gettysburg to the
north of us, when we halted near a house for a rest, the men scat-
tering themselves on the grass or searching for water, as their com-
fort suggested. During this time the sound of firing was plainly
heard from beyond the town, but as yet we knew not what it meant.
Presently a staff officer came galloping up in great haste, making
anxious inquiries for General Robinson, and with great excitement
gave orders to hurry forward all troops. Immediately " Attention ! "
and " Fall in " were heard all along the road, and without delay we
started for the front in quick time.
f ' Within a mile of the town, not far from the Codori house, we
turned from the road, pursuing a northwesterly course across the
226 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. fields, afterwards made famous by Pickett's charge, to the
westerly side of the Lutheran Seminary on Seminary
Ridge, where we arrived about 1 1 o'clock, immediately forming in
line of battle facing to the west, while the first division of the corps
was already engaged near the Mummasburg road to the north of us.
As we approached the Seminary, news was received that General
Reynolds was killed, whereupon we involuntarily quickened our step.
By an order from General Doubleday we proceeded at once, with
vigor and haste, to throw up earthworks, which became very useful
to others before the day was over.
While we were on Seminary Ridge, spent cannon-balls could occa-
sionally be seen rolling slowly along the earth from the battle-ground
to the north of us. Such a sight was common enough during
battles, as every soldier knows, and once in a while a man was
seen who was foolish enough to try stopping one. While we were
busy with our earthworks, such an incident happened close to us.
One of our officers saw a soldier of a Wisconsin regiment, with great
glee, boldly put out his heel to stop a ball that was roUing toward
him, supposing it to be the easiest thing in the world to do. Those
who saw his purpose yelled with all their might ; but it was too late, for
when their remonstrances reached his ear his leg was off. The poor
fellow cried like a child to think he had lost his leg in such a man-
ner, when, as he said, he would gladly have lost it in action. It was
pitiable to see his grief as he exclaimed, " I shall always be ashamed
to say how I lost it." It is so difficult for a person unacquainted
with the fact to appreciate the latent force in a cannon-ball as it
rolls innocently along the ground, that old soldiers took pains to cau-
tion new recruits about the danger of attempting to stop one with the
foot.
In about half an hour after our arrival on Seminary Ridge, orders
were received to move to the front, whereupon we filed round the
front of the building, then east a short distance to the bed of an un-
finished railroad, then north and north-west to an oak grove near the
Mummasburg road, where we were faced, at first, to the north-west in
line of battle. As we came into position we saw the rebel line ad-
vancing by brigades formed en masse. The work of our division now
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 227
1863. began in earnest. Firing as rapidly as possible we drove
the enemy back, while we slowly advanced toward the
Mummasburg road. Each time the enemy advanced we drove him
back,' while up and down the line officers were encouraging the men,
while the men themselves cautioned each other not to fire too high,
but make every shot tell. On our left the rebels were seen coming
down the slope, while on our right flank came another fire, to meet
which we faced more to the north, leaving the troops on the left to
take care of the enemy on that flank. The Eleventh Corps had just
arrived. Forming on our right, it left a dangerous interval of nearly
half a mile between its left and our right. We now began to have our
hands full of work. About this time a charge was ordered, but luckily
abandoned before our weakness was shown. Pretty soon a rebel bri-
gade advanced and charged into the road in front of us, which was a
sunken one, and we let them have it in good shape as they ascended
the bank nearest us. They tried to get back to the other side of the
road, but they were in a pocket, and we had them at our mercy.
'^ Give it to 'em for Fredericksburg ! " shouted some one, whereupon
they threw up their hats to stop firing, and the Thirteenth bagged one
hundred and thirty-two prisoners, including seven commissioned
officers, all belonging to a North Carolina regiment. We had no time
to lose, for along came another line outnumbering any of the preced-
ing ones. An officer in our rear was shouting for us to hold on as long
as we could, while on our right the Eleventh Corps were making
tracks to the rear, leaving the flank of the First Corps, of which we
were the flanking regiment, unprotected. So many men had fallen
that our line looked ridiculously small to be contending with the large
army corps now approaching us. The only thing we could do was
to stand still and fire, though the rebel batteries were now getting in
their work and making it very uncomfortable for the First Corps,
already nearly gone to pieces.
Still no orders came to leave, nor were we reenforced. It was now
four o'clock and our ammunition nearly gone — in some cases all gone ;
General Paul, our brigadier, was shot through both eyes, while the
dead lay all about us. As we glanced to our left we saw one division
after another breaking away and making for Cemetery Hill ; we saw
228 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. the end was near and fell back towards the hill, each man
for himself, it being impracticable to do otherwise with-
out losing still more men. The order was given to rally on Cemetery
Hill. While some of the boys fell back along the railroad cut, others
went directly through the town to the hill. Those who went through
the town were obliged to run the gauntlet of the side streets, already
filled with the men of Ewell's corps, who were endeavoring, with
artillery and musketry, to prevent our escaping. We saw at once
that we had stayed at the front a little too long for our safety. Some
of us were to be gobbled and sent to rot in rebel prisons. Over
fences, into yards, through gates, anywhere an opening appeared, we
rushed with all our speed to escape capture. The streets swarmed
with the enemy, who kept up an incessant firing, and yelling, " Come
in here, you Yankee ! " Still we kept on, hoping to
find a chance of escape somewhere.
The great trouble was to know where to run, for every street
seemed to be occupied by the "rebs," and we were in imminent
danger of running into their arms before we knew it. There was no
time to consider ; we must keep moving and take our chances ; so on
we went until at last, completely blown, we reached the hill now
occupied by the batteries of the Eleventh Corps. In spite of our
efforts, ninety-eight of the Thirteenth were captured. We appreciate
how easy it oftentimes is to be taken prisoner, and frequently men
have taken advantage of opportunities thus afforded to escape fight-
ing J but whoever ran the gauntlet of Gettysburg can be relieved of
any stigma of this kind.
Here we saw the division color-bearer standing alone. Some of
the boys then took the flag, and waving it in turn, shouting and
swinging their caps, soon succeeded in establishing the division
headquarters.
While this was going on, others of the boys went actively to work
bringing rails or digging, until we had a well-formed rifle-pit in
readiness to again meet the enemy's attack ; but we remained un-
disturbed during the night. It was now between 6 and 7 o'clock,
and we had eaten nothing since early morning, so we munched away
on our hardtack. Worn out with fatigue and excitement, many of
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 229
1863. the boys dropped off to sleep at once, insensible to the
firing that was going on at our right, near Gulp's Hill.
As the Eleventh Corps had done less work than the First, it was sent
out on the picket line. About dusk our hearts were gladdened by
the approach of Stannard's Vermont brigade of five regiments, each
a thousand strong. To our delighted vision it seemed like a great
army, and brought vividly to our minds the time when we were a
thousand strong, now, alas ! a mere handful of men. As they ap-
proached, Colonel Dick Coulter, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania, now
commanding the brigade, remarked : " If those fellows will fight
as we do, we'll give the Johnnies hell to-morrow ; " and they did
fight well.
From now until long after midnight, brigade after brigade, corps
after corps, came marching in to take its position on Cemetery Hill.
In the meantime we lay down to sleep, insensible to the tramp
and clatter of an approaching army.
A mile away to the west, on Seminary Ridge, were the wounded of
the First Corps, in the hands of the enemy.
Of the two hundred and eighty-four men and officers we took into
the fight, only ninety-nine now remained for duty, the casualties being
seven killed and eighty wounded, a total of eighty-seven. In
addition to this number ninety-eight men were taken prisoners on
their way back through the town.
The following letter of instructions was sent to General Reynolds
on the ist of July, and was probably the last he received from Gen-
eral Meade, and is interesting to us in settling definitely all the
theories as to what his instructions were :
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
July I, 1863.
Major-General Reynolds, Commanding, etc., Gettysburg :
General : The telegraphic intelligence received from General Couch, with the
various movements reported from Buford, seem to indicate the concentration of
the enemy either at Chambersburg or at a point situated somewhere on a line
drawn between Chambersburg and York, through Mummasburg and to the north
of Gettysburg.
The commanding general cannot decide whether it is his best policy to move to
attack until he learns something more definite of the point at which the enemy is
230 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. concentrating. This he hopes to do during the day. Meanwhile
he would like to have your views on the subject, at least as far as
concerns your position. If the enemy is concentrating to the right of Gettysburg,
that point would not at first glance seem to be a proper strategic point of con-
centration for the enemy.
If the enemy is concentrating in front of Gettysburg or to the left of it, the
general is not sufficiently well-informed of the nature of the country to judge of
the character for either an offensive or defensive position. The numbers of the
enemy are estimated at 92,000 infantry, with 270 pieces of artillery, and his" cav-
alry from 6,000 to 8,000. Our numbers ought to equal it, and with the arrival of
General French's command, which should get up to-morrow, exceed it, if not too
much weakened by straggling and fatigue.
The General having just assumed command, in obedience to orders, with the
position of affairs leaving no time to learn the condition of the army as to morale
and proportionate strength compared with its last return, would gladly receive
from you any suggestions as to the points laid down in this note. He feels that
you know more of the condition of the troops in your vicinity and the country
than he does. General Humphreys, who is at Emmitsburg with the Third Corps,
the General considers an excellent adviser as to the nature of the country for
offensive or defensive operations. If near enough to call him to consultation
with you, without interference with the responsibilities that devolve upon you
both, please do so. You have all the information that the General has received,
and the General would like to have your views. The movement of your corps to
Gettysburg was ordered before the positive knowledge of the enemy's vrithdrawal
from Harrisburg and concentration was received.
Very respectfully, etc.,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant General.
(Copy to Major-General Howard.)
It is no disparagement to the men of the First Corps who gave up
their lives to-day, when we say the bravest of all was Gen. John
F. Reynolds, our commander. His loss to the Army of the Potomac
was very great, and must have been keenly felt by Meade, whose con-
fidence he had more completely than any other officer under him,
and upon whose judgment and advice he would, very likely, have
relied. To the men of his corps, whose admiration for him was en-
thusiastic and devoted, his loss seems irreparable.
During our service there were two officers who excited in us an
affectionate devotion, — General Hartsuff and General Reynolds.
It is difficult to describe the kind of personal magnetism which these
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 231
1863. men, so much alike in many respects, possessed. They
were both discipUnarians of the strictest kind, making
no effort to gain our good-will by clap-trap or humbug, reserved and
cold in their manners, requiring prompt and implicit obedience, yet
each had acquired the most perfect control over his men — that kind
of control which prompts men to wiUingly obey orders without hesi-
tation, deeming it an honor to have been called upon. No danger
or duty was considered too great to undertake under their leadership.
To the First Corps, General Reynolds was the ieau ideal of a soldier.
His great abilities and his bravery the world has acknowledged and
expressed its admiration therefor, but the love we had for him is be-
yond expression.
The following tribute to General Reynolds was written by Count
de Paris and published in his history of the battle of Gettysburg,
and will be read with pleasure by every man who had the honor to
serve in the First Corps :
Reynolds was undoubtedly the most remarkable man among all the officers that
the Army of the Potomac saw fall on the battlefield during the four years of its
existence; and Meade could say of him that he was the noblest and bravest of
them all. A graduate of West Point, he had early distinguished himself in that
Mexican army which was destined to become the nursery of the staff-officers
both North and South. His former comrades, who had become either his
colleagues or his adversaries, held him in the greatest estimation on account of
his military talents, for under a cold exterior he concealed an ardent soul; and it
was not the slowness, but rather the clearness, of his judgment that enabled him
to preserve his coolness at the most critical moments. The confidence he
inspired, alike in his Inferiors, his equals, and his commanders, would no doubt
soon have distinguished him for the command of one of the Union armies. It
would have been a fortunate thing for the cause he was serving with devotion and
earnestness without having ever sought to elicit appreciation of his merits. His
untimely death — he was forty-three years old — was not without some benefit to
that cause, for by making a vigorous fight in the battle, which cost him his life, he
secured the possession of Cemetery Hill to the Army of the Potomac, against
which the full tide of Southern invasion broke. We will cite, in conclusion, as
the most beautiful homage paid to character, the unanimous regrets of the inhabi-
tants of Fredericksburg, of which town he had been the military governor, who,
although passionately devoted to the cause of the South, mourned him as if he
had been one of their own people.
On the first day of July, 1888, just twenty-five years after the
events described, near the same spot where General Reynolds was
232 THREE YEARS IN' THE ARMY.
1863. killed, a group of survivors of the First Corps, and others,
assembled to pay tribute to his memory. General James
A. Beaver, then Governor of Pennsylvania, who was an officer in the
Second Corps in July, 1863, was invited to deliver an address of
welcome. In his remarks he paid the following compliment to the
First Corps, and tribute to General Reynolds :
Standing on this spot, in full sight of the place where Reynolds fell, looking
out upon the battlefield which was occupied by the First Army Corps of the Army
of the Potomac, just twenty-five years ago to-day, the obvious thought which
comes to every thinking man — the thought which is in the mind of many
unspoken — is this: "If Hooker's tactics had been as grand as his strategy,
there would have been no Gettysburg, and Reynolds would not have fallen here.
If the battle of Chancellorsville had been fought as the army was ready to fight
it, the Confederate forces would not have crossed the Potomac, and Pennsylvania's
soil would not have drank the blood of martyred dead. These " ifs " which come
tons unbidden are human; they are finite; they come of finite thought; they
come from finite minds. There are no " ifs " in God's economy. The battle of
Chancellorsville was not to be won. The Potomac was to be crossed by the forces
which came to Pennsylvania on a hostile errand. The battle of Gettysburg was
to be fought ; the First Corps was to do the greatest fighting of that battle ;
Reynolds was to fall just where he did. The First Corps was to deploy its lines;
its flanks were to be enveloped; it was to be opposed by four times its numbers;
it was to lose three-fourths of the forces engaged, because that was the purpose
and plan of the Almighty. And let me say to you, my friends, that when the
measure of this generation has been filled, when the men that fought at Gettys-
burg, the men who shed blood at Gettysburg, the men who made the battlefield
of Gettysburg historic and immortal — when those men are all dead, the hero of
this fight, the man whose career and whose reputation and whose glory all might
covet, is the man whose monument stands yonder, and who fell on this battle-
field. When the history of this battlefield has been studied, when the devotion
which was given to the country on this field has been fully measured, it will be
found that the first day's fight, particularly by the First Corps, was (and I believe
it is conceded now by those who have studied it) the grandest fight of the war,
and led to the most important results of the war. Coming into this field with
little more than eight thousand men, met by at least three times that number, with
its right flank and its left flank both enveloped by the Confederate line, longer by
a half a mile than it was, that devoted corps stood in front of the battle exhaust-
ing its ammunition, firing its last shot, and leaving on the field or in the hands of
the enemy three-fourths of the entire number engaged. You look in vain through
the history of our war, of any war, of all wars, for devotion like that — for suc-
cess like that; and it is not too much to say that the success of that first day made
the success of succeeding days possible.
TlHUrEENTH MASS. VOLS. 233
1863. By reason of our hard work of yesterday, we were to-
Thursday, ^^y jjgjj ^ reserve. It often happens that this kind of
■'" ^ ^" duty turns out to be more arduous than being stationed
in line of battle, inasmuch as you may be called upon to
march to any point that needs strengthening, as it happened with us
on this particular day.
Upon waking in the morning, we found everything astir with ex-
citement and preparation. Thousands of troops had gathered during
the night, presenting a formidable appearance in the gray morning
light. As we were gazing about, a party of officers were seen ap-
proaching, among whom was General Hancock. Some of the boys,
regardless of danger, were exposing themselves on top and at the sides
of the earthworks that we built last night, when, in a mild, pleasant
voice, General Hancock said, " Keep down, boys ; that is the way
with you Massachusetts boys — too much d d curiosity ; keep
down ! '
In the afternoon, as Sickles' corps was being pushed back at the
peach orchard, our division was sent hurriedly to his support. Be-
fore we reached him it had grown so dark that the smoke and fire
from the rebel artillery looked like sheets of flame. While we were
formed in line, marching brigade front, a shell exploded in the midst
of an adjoining regiment, knocking over a dozen men. As the rebel
infantry were being driven back at the moment of our arrival, our
services became unnecessary, and later in the evening we returned
to Cemetery Hill to support Ricketts' and Wiedrick's batteries, which
were being charged by the Louisiana Tigers. We were thrown in
the front of these guns, with orders to hug the ground as closely as
possible while the batteries fired over us. There is no more trying
situation for a soldier than to be lying down in front of a battery.
He is only a few yards in front of the guns, and the concussion from
each discharge seems to travel up his spinal column to the top of
his head. The noise is terrible and appalling. The testimony of
men who have undergone such an experience is, that they endure
more mental suffering than when standing in line of battle. You are
being constantly pelted with the packings, as they become dislodged
from the shells when they leave the muzzle of the gun. These pieces
234 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. are not dangerous, though they often make an uncom-
fortable contusion, the size of a walnut, if they hit you.
If a piece strikes you on the head you will think, as the boy did, that
" you might as well be killed as scared to death."
All the afternoon we listened to the sound of battle at our right on
Gulp's Hill, dreading defeat and another retreat. It made us sick
at heart to think of what might occur in such an event, and glad we
were when night came and put a temporary stop to the fighting.
Evidently we had not held our own at this point.
So far as exposure to danger is concerned, our division may be
said to have had very good luck. There was hard fighting, at difier-
ent points, all day, and even into the night, without apparently any
advantage having been gained by the Union army. During our ab-
sence to the left of the line, where we were sent to help the Third
Corps, there was hard fighting at Cemetery Hill, and by the time we
got back the fighting was practically over at that point ; so we es-
caped loss in both instances. At the council of corps commanders
held on this day the following questions were asked :
1 . Under existing circumstances, is it advisable for this army to remain in its
present position or to retire to another nearer its base of supplies?
2. It being determined to remain in present position, shall the array attack or
wait the attack of the enemy?
3. If an attack, how long ?
REPLIES.
Gibbon :
1. Correct position of the army, but would not retreat.
2. In no condition to attack, in his opinion.
Williams :
1. Stay.
2. Wait attack.
3. One day.
Briney: •
Same as General Williams.
Sykes:
Same as General Williams.
Newton :
1 . Correct position of army, but would not retreat.
2. By all means not attack.
3. If we attack, it will give them a chance to cut our line.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 235
Howard :
1. Remain.
2. Wait attack until 4 P.M. to-morrow.
3. If don't attack, attack them.
Hancock :
1. Rectify position without moving so as to give up field.
2. Not attack unless our communications are cut.
3. Can't wait long; can't be idle.
Sedgwick :
I. Remain and wait attack at least one day.
Slocum :
I. Stay and fight it out.
1863. At daylight we found ourselves in front of the batteries
Friday, qjj Cemetery Hill facing the town; an uncomfortable
J" ^ ^' position on account of the sharpshooters who were
posted in houses fronting the hill, and, like the man at
the Donnybrook Fair, wherever they saw a head, were there to hit it.
Soon after daylight we received what, for the moment, seemed a
very singular order. At a given signal we were to rush from our
position in front to the rear of the batteries with as much confusion
and zigzagging as possible, the purpose being to confuse the enemy
and to prevent the men becoming a mark for the sharpshooters.
The movement was made so suddenly that it was all over before the
enemy had time to recover from their surprise. It was always grati-
fying to the rank and file to see a ray of intelligence exhibited,
even in a general officer.
We were now held in reserve, in readiness to be sent at once to
any part of the lines that might need strengthening. As a lull had
occurred in the fighting, a good many of the boys occupied the
time in sleep, while some visited officers, and friends in other
regiments, swapping gossip, etc.
About I o'clock the silence was suddenly broken by the discharge
of signal-guns by the enemy. Immediately following this was the
continuous discharge of one hundred and thirty-eight pieces of ar-
tillery, answered by eighty pieces of our own, making a roar such as
the world has rarely heard.
The air was full of projectiles, while bursting shells were carrying
236 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. havoc among supply-trains, ambulances, and reserve bat-
teries, the men in the meanwhile hurrying for shelter
behind the slightest elevation of ground. It seemed to rain shells.
During this excitement our division, under General Robinson, was
removed from its exposed position to the north-east side of Cemetery
Hill, where it was placed in support of some batteries at that point.
It seemed like jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire, so far as
danger was concerned, as we were now facing the sharpshooters and
pickets on that side, who were swarming behind fences and stone
walls, making it lively for the gunners in our rear. We sheltered
ourselves as well as we could by hugging the ground or taking ad-
vantage of any object that would stop or ward off a buUet. It was a
hard place, inasmuch as it was impossible for us to do any firing, sit-
uated as we were. While we were lying here our artillery aU along
the line suddenly stopped firing, exciting in us grave apprehensions
of failure and retreat. In fifteen minutes or more they began again,
and shortly we were ordered to hasten to the support of the
Second Corps, now engaged in repulsing Pickett's charge. We ran
along the crest of the hill amid a continued shower of rebel shell,
while the noise was increased by musketry-firing and the shouting
and yelling of troops on both sides. Our speed was retarded by the
broken caissons, gun-carriages, and other debris, and also the bodies
of men and horses lying dead or wounded, many of the latter crawl-
ing or limping to hospitals in the rear.
During the movement, an incident happened to show the hard
luck that followed a gallant regiment. The Sixteenth Maine, durmg
the first day's fight, was assigned the very difficult duty of holding on
and delaying, if possible, the advance of the enemy until the rest of
the division could get to the rear ; and it did its work bravely and
with great credit to itself, its colonel and most of the men being
taken prisoners in the endeavor. The remnant of about twenty men
that escaped were just ahead of us as we double-quicked along the
ridge. Suddenly a Whitworth shell from one of the enemy's bat-
teries exploded in their midst, and it seemed to us, as we hurried on
over their mangled bodies, that every man must have been killed.
Our entire division at this time, consisting of eleven regiments, num-
TniUTEENTir MASS. VOLS. 237
1863. bered only about nine hundred men, and we felt sorry
enough to see the remnant of this excellent regiment so
completely wiped out.
While these sights were such as are commonly observed on all
battlefields, they seemed more hideous than any seen before, even
to those familiar with such scenes.
The tide of battle had turned just as we arrived, and the remnant
of Pickett's corps could be seen hurrying back to their lines, while
men were bringing in squads of prisoners, some willing and others
unwilling to be captured.
Thousands of Union men and officers, many of whom were be-
grimed with powder or stained with blood, were shouting themselves
hoarse at their success. Riding up and down the line coatless,
waving his hat and shouting like the rest of us, was General Hays,
dragging in the dust a lot of rebel banners whose staffs he held with
the other hand. The rebel artillery- firing continued ; but no one
thought of exploding shells at a moment like this. The army was
boiling over with enthusiasm. It seemed as though the pent-up
feelings of two long years had been suddenly released, so boisterous
were its demonstrations. Everywhere in that much-abused army
was expressed the wish to be led forth to finish up the bloody
business.
When the rebel army left its position on the south side of the
Rappahannock River to march northward, its courage was tempered
with the prestige of victory. Its feelings were buoyant with recent
success and with anticipations of triumphant progress north of the
Potomac. Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellors-
ville had contributed to make the Confederate army feel invincible.
Such a series of victories would have excited the pride and con-
fidence of any army. Our generalship appeared so inferior to theirs,
they imagined nothing could stop their onward progress. Every one
knows how disheartening it is to endure continuous defeat, and what
a weary grind it is to labor in vain.
All the rhetorical flourishes of what we were going to do when we
crossed the river to Chancellorsville were discussed from day to day,
as we tramped along after Lee. Weariness, disappointment, and dis-
238 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. gust had possession of the rank and file of our army,
while our opponents were filled with enthusiasm for their
leaders and at the prospects of success. The first and second day
at Gettysburg had failed to lessen their confidence. When Pickett's
corps charged upon our line, the men must have felt that a grand
success awaited them, as, indeed, any body of men might have felt
under similar circumstances. The reaction that follows an unex-
pected defeat is pretty sure to produce a panic, if taken advantage
of by a victorious army. To our minds this seemed one of those
moments when a Sheridan or a Stonewall Jackson might have anni-
hilated Lee's army. Everything appeared to be in our favor. The
Potomac swollen by the recent rains, the enemy away from their
own territory, with a supply-train fifteen miles in length encumbered
with ambulances, and thousands of prisoners unable to move at a
high rate of speed, — all presented an opportunity such as the Army
of the Potomac never had before nor after. " Press on ! " was Na-
poleon's maxim. It was not so with us. There must be more
slaughter, as if the gods were not already appeased.
During the month of May, 1893, thirty years after the event just
described, a party of military men visited the scene of this famous
charge. Among the number were Generals Howard and Sickles, of
the Union army, and Generals Longstreet and Alexander, of the Con-
federate army. General Alexander was Longstreet's chief of staff.
An account of this visit was published in the " New York Evening
Post," from which the following interesting extract is taken :
It is known that Longstreet was opposed to the Pickett charge, believing that
it was a task beyond human endurance. It is known that he was opposed to
fighting at Gettysburg at all. He told us to-day that he said to Lee, after Howard
had taken his position on Cemetery Ridge, that these Gettysburg hills were of no
more value to the Confederate army than any other ground in Pennsylvania or
Maryland, and that a movement to the right would compel the Union forces to
abandon their ground and occupy less favorable positions. Thereupon General
Howard remarked that a movement to the right would have exposed Lee's com-
munications, and that if Grant had been in command of the Union army, it would
have been an act of suicide. " Yes, and if Grant had been in command, what we
actually did would have been suicide," remarked one of the Confederate officers.
When we arrived at the ground where Pickett's division was formed for the
fatal charge which ended in its virtual annihilation, I asked General Longstreet
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 239
1863. if there was anything to prevent a counter attaclc by General
Meade after the remnant of Piclcett's men were driven back. " You
can answer thh.t question, Alexander," replied Longstreet. General Alexander
then took up the discourse, " We saw that the situation was desperate," he said.
" I ordered up to that ridge (pointing to a slight elevation a few rods from us,
and rather more than a mile distant from Cemetery Hill) every gun that had as
much as twenty rounds of ammunition left. Our batteries, taken together, had
an average of only fifteen rounds each. There was nothing for us to do but to
fire the last shot from these guns. Everything was open from there to there
(pointing to a space along the Confederate line half a mile in width). All that
we had left was that fringe of guns with twenty rounds of ammunition,"
When General Alexander had said this. General Longstreet nodded and re-
peated the words of his artillery chief: "There was nothing from there to there
except that fringe of cannon — no infantiy at all." He then told an anecdote
which an English officer (Captain Fremantle) who was with him at Gettysburg
has narrated in a book. Fremantle says that he watched Pickett's men until
the head of the column reached the Union line and began to clamber
over the stone wall. Longstreet had watched it also, but with a more practised
eye. He had seen the effect of the withering fire, and he knew that the leaping
of the stone wall was but the last gasp of that stricken band. Fremantle ran up
to him and exclaimed, " General, that is magnificent ! I wouldn't have missed it for
the world." — "The hell you wouldn't," replied Longstreet. Secretary Stanton
once directed Longstreet's attention to Fremantle's narrative and asked him
whether it was true. He replied that probably there was nothing in his whole
life that he could have spared more easily than the magnificence of that charge.
We recognize that all this is a debatable question, particularly in
the light of subsequent information, but we believe that what we
have written is a correct statement of the prevailing feeling, as it ex-
isted among the rank and file of the army at a supreme moment of
this battle when the reasoning of men unacquainted with the hard
logic of facts is, of course, likely to be defective. Until this moment
we had had nothing but discouraging work, hardly holding the enemy
even, but now we had reached the long-toiled-for opportunity, and
victory seemed within our grasp — we had only to reach for it and it
was ours ; but as usual with our poor old army, we waited until the
enemy recovered from the unexpected shock, and then it was too late.
Subsequently we learned what " old Abe," who saw deeper into the
instincts of human nature than any man of his time, said to Meade ;
and as usual when he wrote anything concerning the army he echoed
its thoughts and feelings with great clearness : " The fruit seemed so
240 THREE YEARS IJST THE ARMY.
1863. ripe, so ready for plucking, that it seemed a pity to lose
it." In an hour the kaleidoscope of battle had changed,
new combinations were made, and a great opportunity lost, we
thought.
The following extract from Doubleday's account of the battle of
Gettysburg is interesting, because it is so in harmony with the feeling
which we have attempted to describe as prevailing in the army :
When Pickett's charge was repulsed, and the whole plain covered with
fugitives, we all expected that Wellington's command at Waterloo of " Up, Guards,
and at them ! " would be repeated, and that a grand counter-charge would be
made. But General Meade had made no arrangements for a return thrust. It
seems to me that he should have posted the Sixth and part of the Twelfth Corps
ill the rear of Gibbon's division the moment Pickett's infantry were seen emerg-
ing from the woods, a mile and a half off. If they broke through our centre
these corps would have been there to receive them, and if they failed to pierce
our line and retreated, the two corps could have followed them promptly before
they had time to rally and reorganize. An advance by Sykes would have kept
Longstreet in position. In all probability we would have cut the enemy's army in
two, and captured the long line of batteries opposite us, which were but slightly
guarded. Hancock, lying wounded in an ambulance, wrote to Meade, recom-
mending that this be done. Meade, it is true, recognized, in some sort, the good
effects of a counter-blow; but to be effective the movement should have been
prepared beforehand. It was too late to commence making preparation for an
advance when some time had elapsed and when Lee had rallied his troops and
had made all his arrangements to resist an assault. It was ascertained afterwards
that he had twenty rounds of ammunition left per gun, but it was not evenly dis-
tributed, and some batteries in front had fired away all their cartridges. A coun-
ter-charge under such circumstances is considered almost imperative in war, for
the beaten army, running and dismayed, cannot, in the nature of things, resist
with much spirit, whereas the pursuers, highly elated by their success, and with
the prospect of ending the contest, fight with more energy and bravery. Rodes
says the Union forces were so long in occupying the town and in coming forward
after the repulse of the enemy, that it was generally thought that they had re-
treated. Meade rode leisurely over to the Fifth Corps on the left and told Sykes
to send out and see if the enemy in his front was firm and holding on to his po-
sition. A brigade, preceded by skirmishers, was accordingly sent forward, but as
Longstreet's troops were well fortified, they resisted the advance, and Meade,
finding some hours had elapsed and that Lee had closed up his lines and was
fortifying against him, gave up all idea of a counter attack.
About sunset a detail of fifty men from the Thirteenth were sent
out in front to establish a skirmish line in connection with the troops
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 241
1863. on the right and left, at a point just beyond the Emmits-
burg pike, about midway of the plain between the armies,
on the ground over which Pickett made his charge.
The following graphic account of what was seen by this detail is
related by Lieut. Edward F. Rollins, of our regiment :
I, with other officers, was detailed to take fifty men of my regiment and estab-
lish a skirmish line in connection with other troops on our right and left, at a rail
fence beyond the Emmitsburg pike, and about midway of the plain, over which
Pickett's charge had taken place. As this line made its way to its destination
through the trampled and unmown grass, we often stumbled over dead bodies,
and were exhorted by the wounded who had life enough to speak, " For God's
sake don't step on us ! " or to give them a drink of water, or to turn them over, or
other like entreaties. Though strict orders had been given to pay no attention to
the wounded, with an explanation that the stretcher-bearers would follow the
skirmish line, still flesh and blood could not refuse these offices, even to our late
enemies. The thought came to me of my own comrades, wounded two days be-
fore on Seminary Ridge, who must have asked the same favors of them. I also
had a feeling of admiration for these brave men who had composed that charging
party of 17,000 men marching closed en masse, and who closed up the gaps as our
solid shot and shell ploughed through their ranks, and who still came on so
magnificently that they almost deserved success, even in a bad cause. Arriving
at the rail fence, we saw beyond a pile of dead and wounded, struck as they ex-
posed themselves clambering over, while on the charge. A scattering fire had
annoyed us as we advanced, but no determined effort was made to stop us.
From the rebel line beyond, in the darkness, we could hear the sound of chop-
ping and driving stakes in the ground; and this was intermingled with groans and
shrieks of the wounded and dying, all around us. Indeed, neither time nor incli-
nation will allow me to describe the horrors of that night. At 1 1 o'clock a detail
of surgeons and assistants from our line came out, giving the wounded, so far as I
could learn, not much but morphine. One wounded man would pass the word
along to another, who begged for it to drown his sufferings. I arranged with an
officer of the Ninety-fourth New York to call him when it was time for his relief to
go on, and he showed me where he was going to lie down with one of his men on
the same "relief," he wishing to get a little sleep. When the time came for me
to call him I groped around and found him. On awakening he began to shake
his blanket companion and told him to get up, it was time for their " relief" to go
on duty. He could not start him, and greatly surprised were both of us when we
discovered that he had made a mistake in the darkness, and had been sharing his
blanket and sleeping beside the body of a dead rebel. This whole night a
wounded and probably insane rebel, in the rear of the skirmish line, walked back
and forth like a sentinel, singing religious hymns, in a clear, calm voice, and paid
no attention to requests to keep quiet. We rejoined the regiment at daylight.
242 THREE YEARS IIV THE ARMT.
1863. While the whole North was probably celebrating with
Saturday, unrestrained joy the victories of Gettysburg and Vicks-
burg, two of the boys had crawled out of their blankets
and were now engaged in making coffee. The morning
was cloudy. It was so early the troops were hardly astir. The boys
were too busy with their labor to be wasting time in idle words, nor
were they in the mood for much talk. The fatigue and excitement of
the last three days had reacted, and they proceeded, in their melan-
choly way, to brew their stimulating beverage. Presently one said
to the other, " Bill, there was a fight yesterday, wasn't there ? "
" I believe there was, Jim."
" Who licked?"
" Damned if I know ; I thought we did, by the hollering."
"Then let's call it a victory."
" I say, Jim, war doesn't seem such a hell of a picnic as we hoped
it would be when we paid 1 12.50 for the privilege of enlisting,
does it?"
" I don't give a damn for the picnic, but what makes me sick is
that every time we have a chance to finish up the business, we stop
and give the ' rebs ' a chance to recover."
" I wonder if the positions we left, on enlisting, will be open to
us as promised, when we get back? "
" If we carry on the war much longer as we do now, there'll be no
' get back.' "
" What are you going to do about it? "
"Do? Nothing. What f a« we do ? "
At this moment a third man approached the fire,
"What are you fellows growling about? "
" Jim, here, says we had a victory yesterday."
" No, I didn't. I said, let's call it a victory."
" You are right, Jim," said the new-comer. " We'll call it one,
though it draws hard on the imagination."
This conversation reflects pretty well the feeling that prevailed
among the soldiers the morning of the fourth.
As we reflected on the last three days' terrible work, we could not
escape the impression that it was a repetition of Antietam, for in both
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 243
1863. cases the enemy was granted " leave to withdraw " at a
time when it could have had little expectation of the
exercise of so benignant a privilege.
By noon it began to rain in torrents, making the roads so muddy
that it was impossible to manoeuvre artillery with any advantage,
furnishing a good reason to Meade for thanking Providence for
granting us a great victory. It was now plain enough to all that
the fighting was over, and if Lee would only get back into Virginia
we might make the claim, without fear of dispute. At present,
however, the enemy showed a strong front, having apparently re-
covered from the paralyzing shock of yesterday, thanks to our cus-
tomary irresolution.
We lay all day in a piece of woods to the south of the cemetery,
wondering what would be the next move on the checker-board of
fate. Desultory firing was kept up by the enemy, whose sharp-
shooters occasionally hit a man. On one of these occasions, when
an officer of our regiment was in the act of raising his dipper filled
with coffee, a bullet passed completely through it. " A close shot,"
said the officer, and proceeded to drink the remainder of the coffee.
Another one of our boys was shot in the thigh ; so the day didn't
pass without some excitement and the customary Fourth of July
accident.
Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
July 4, 1863, 6.35 A.M.
(Received, 8.25 A.M.)
Maj.-Gen. George [G.] Meade, Commanding U. S. Army of the Potomac :
General : In order to promote the comfort and convenience of the officers and
men captured by the opposing armies in the recent engagements, I respectfully
propose that an exchange be made at once.
Should this proposition be acceptable, please indicate the hour and point be-
tween the lines of the armies where such an exchange can be made.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
July 3 [4], 1863, 8.25 A.M.
Gen. R. E. Lee, Commanding Army of Northern Virginia :
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date,
proposing to make an exchange at once of the captured officers and men in my
244 tiihee years in the army.
1863. possession, and have to say, most respectfully, that it is not in my
power to accede to the proposed arrangement.
Very respectfully, etc.,
GEO. G. MEADE,
Major-General Commanding,
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
July 4, 1863, 7 A.M.
Major-General Halleck:
This morning the enemy has withdrawn his pickets from the positions of yes-
terday. My own pickets are moving out to ascertain the nature and extent of the
enemy's movements. My information is not sufficient for me to decide its char-
acter yet — whether a retreat or manoeuvre for other purposes.
GEORGE G. MEADE,
Major- General.
General Robinson, our division commander, makes the following
report of the doings of his division during the battle :
Headquarters Second Division, First A. C.,
July 18, 1863.
Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this
division in the engagements of the 1st, 2d, and 3d instant:
On the morning of Wednesday the ist, the division marched from Eramitsburg,
bringing up the rear of the column, and when about three miles from Gettysburg,
hearing firing in front, it was pushed rapidly forward, and, arriving on the field,
was placed, by order of the major-general commanding First Corps, in reserve,
near the Seminary. Almost immediately after taking this position, I received no-
tice that the enemy was advancing a heavy column of infantry on the right of our
line of battle, when I sent the Second Brigade, under Brigadier-General Baxter, to
meet it. Orders being received at this time to hold the Seminary, the First Bri-
gade, under Brigadier-General Paul, was set at work to intrench the ridge on which
it was situated. I then rode to the right of the line to superintend the operations
there. On my arrival, I found the Second Brigade so placed as to cover our
right flank, but with too great an interval between it and the line of the first divis-
ion. I at once directed General Baxter to change front forward on his left bat-
talion, and to close this interval, toward which the enemy was making his way. By
the time this change was efiected, the whole front of the brigade became hotly en-
gaged, but succeeded in repulsing the attack. The enemy, however, soon after
brought up fresh forces, in increased masses, when, finding the position so seriously
threatened, I sent for and brought up the First Brigade [in which was the Thir-
teenth], and placed part of it in the position first occupied by Baxter's brigade, and
the remaining battalions as a support to his second position. The enemy now
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 245
1863. made repeated attacks on the division, in all of which he was hand-
somely repulsed, with the loss of three flags and about one
thousand prisoners.
In one of these attacks I was deprived of the veteran commander of the First
Brigade, Brigadier- General Paul, who fell severely wounded, while gallantly di-
recting and encouraging his command.
The division held its position on the right — receiving and repelling the fierce
attacks of a greatly superior number, not only in front, but on the flank, and when
the enemy's ranks were broken, charging upon him and capturing his colors and
men — from about noon until nearly 5 P.M., when I received orders to withdraw.
These orders not being received until all other troops (except Stewart's Battery)
had commenced moving to the rear, the division held its ground, until outflanked
right and left, and retired fighting.
From the nature of the enemy's attacks, frequent changes were rendered neces-
sary, and they were made under a galling fire. No soldiers ever fought better,
or inflicted severer blows upon the enemy. When out of ammunition, their boxes
were replenished from those of their dead and wounded comrades.
The instances of distinguished gallantry are too numerous to be embodied in
this report, and I leave it to the brigade and regimental commanders to do justice
to those under their immediate command. Where all did so well it is difficult to
discriminate.
After withdrawing from this contest I took up a posttion on a ridge to the left
of the cemetery, facing the Emmitsburg road, and remained there until afternoon
of the next day, when I was relieved by a division of the Second Corps, and or-
dered to the support of the Eleventh Corps. In the evening I was ordered to
the left of our line, but was soon after directed to return.
On Friday morning, the 3d inst., the division was massed and held ready to
push forward to the support of the Twelfth Corps, then engaged with the enemy
on our right.
About noon I was informed by the major-general commanding the army that
he anticipated an attack on the cemetery by the enemy's forces massed in the
town, and was directed to so plan my command that if our line gave way I could
attack the enemy on his flank. I proceeded to make this change of position
at the moment the enemy commenced the terrific artillery fire of that day.
Never before were troops so exposed to such a fire of shot and shell, and
yet the movement was made in perfect order and with little loss.
Later in the day, the enemy having made his attack on our left instead of the
centre, I was ordered to the right of the Second Corps, which position I held
until Sunday, when the line was withdrawn.
This division went into battle with less than 2,500 officers and men, and sus-
tained a loss of 1,667, of which 124 were commissioned officers.
JOHN C. ROBINSON,
Bri^.- Gen. Commanding Division.
246
THREE YEARS IN THE ARMT.
1863.
The following communication explains itself:
Headquarters Second Division, First A. C,
November 15, 1863.
Maj.-Gen. George G. Meade, Commanding Army of the Potomac:
General : I feel it is my duty to inform you of the intense mortification and
disappointment felt by my division in reading your report of the battle of
Gettysburg.
For nearly four hours on July ist we were hotly engaged against overwhelming
numbers, repulsed repeated attacks of the enemy, captured their flags and a very
large number of prisoners, and were the last to leave the field.
The division formed the right of the line of battle of the First Corps, and dur-
ing the whole time had to fight the enemy in front and protect our right flank
(the division of the Eleventh Corps being at no time less than half a mile in
rear) . We went into action with less than two thousand five hundred men, and
lost considerably more than half our number.
We have been proud of our efforts on that day, and hoped that they would be
recognized. It is but natural we should feel disappointed that we are not once
referred to in the report of the commanding general.
Trusting that you will investigate this matter and give us due credit, I am. Gen-
eral, very respectfully your obedient servant,
JOHN C. ROBINSON,
Brig.- Gen. Commanding Division.
General Meade's reply to this communication, if he ever made
any, cannot be found in the War Records.
The following table shows the losses at Gettysburg :
First Corps .
Second Corps
Third Corps .
Fifth Corps .
Sixth Corps .
Eleventh Corps
Twelfth Corps
Cavalry Corps
Artillery Reserve
General Headquarters
Totel .
6,059
4.369
4,211
2,187
242
3,801
1,082
852
242
4
23.049
TUIETEENTH MASS. VOLS. 247
1863. At daylight it was announced that the Confederate
Sunday, army had retreated. At 9 o'clock the regiment was
•"^ ^ moved to the left of the line to a position lately occu-
pied by the Third Corps. Burying parties were now
busily employed to bury the dead, from whose bodies the stench
was almost intolerable.
The following is an extract from a letter written for the Christian
Commission by Mr. R. G. McCreary, a prominent citizen and lawyer
of Gettysburg, who was an eye-witness of the scenes he describes :
The battle of the ist of July commenced about the middle of the forenoon be-
tween the rebels advancing on the Chambersburg turnpike and Buford's cavalry
who, as the infantry of the First Army Corps came up and formed in line of
battle, slowly retired to the rear. The approaching storm was watched with in-
tense anxiety by the citizens, but it was not long until the boom of cannon, the
bursting of shell, the rattle and crash of heavy infantry firing along the ridges
west of the town, and the streams of litters which began to move in from the
field of carnage, brought them to realize the fact that a fierce and bloody contest
was in progress,
I saw no more of the battle till the middle of the afternoon, though there was
abundant evidence in the many mangled forms coming in, upon whom I was
tending, and the louder and increasing crash of arms, that the conflict svas a most
terrible one, and was rapidly approaching the town. At length, by the frequent
explosion of shells in the immediate neighborhood, I found that our army was
falling back, and soon the rush and roar in the streets banished everything else
from my mind. That was a terrible night. Our army had been driven back; the
town was full of armed enemies. We saw and heard the; progress of pillage all
around us.
The morning of July 2d revealed a dreadful sight — dead horses and dead men
lay about the streets, and there were none to bury them. Our first care was for
the multitude of wounded men now suffering for the want of food. The bak-
eries were in the hands of the rebels, ^nd not a loaf nor a cracker remained; the
butchers' cattle had been driven off or confiscated, and no meat could be procured;
the groceries were broken open, and their contents carried away or destroyed by
troops of rebels, who, like hungry wolves, roamed through the streets in search of
plunder.
The rebel officers, until Triday (July 3), seemed to be entirely confident of
success. One of them said to me on the forenoon of Thursday that they would
not remain with us more than a few hours, as General Lee had his plan of battle
nearly arranged, and they would move forward, and he seemed to think with
assured success; they extolled General Lee as the great master of the military
art, and spoke of his admirable strategy in making a grand feint toward Phila-
248 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. delphia in order to concentrate his army here for an attack on Balti-
more and Washington. About this time a squad of soldiers passing
were halted, and asked to what they belonged? They replied, "To the Second
Louisiana Brigade." They were then asked if they had taken a battery they had
been charging upon? and they replied that they had "To come out," and could
not take it. The officers were silent. These men said the next day that they had
but fifty men left in their brigade after that assault. They were the "Louisiana
Tigers," of whom those officers had boasted that " they had never been driven
back in a charge, and never would be."
On Friday night and Saturday morning the rebel army had withdrawn from
the town to the crest of Seminary Ridge, and our skirmishers had driven out or
captured their stragglers and pickets. While the dead still lay unburied and the
helpless wounded upon the field were numbered by the thousands, the call of the
bugle summoned the victors from the side of the dying, the faithful surgeon from
the pierced skull, the mangled flesh, and broken limb. Saturday, Sunday, and
Monday, the town of Gettysburg presented a woful appearance. Guns were
scattered in the streets or piled upon the sidewalks. Pavements were stained
with blood. Every church and public building, and in fact almost every private
house, was filled with wounded. More than twenty thousand wounded men were
in and around Gettysburg.
After the departure of the enemy from Gettysburg, we had the
pleasure of meeting the people, who gave us a pretty clear idea of
how Mr. " Johnnie Reb " behaved while in possession of the town,
from which we learned a new lesson in warfare. Not exactly a new
lesson, but the application of an old one in vogue during the days
when plundering and pillage went hand in hand with grim-visaged
war.
When the " Rebs " crossed the border line of Pennsylvania, they
began a systematic plundering of such towns and people as showed
evidence of possessing anything worth taking. As we listened to the
stories that were told us, we couldn't refrain from contrasting the
methods pursued by the Union army when marching in their country.
We sometimes thought our officers were unnecessarily strict, particu-
larly in the matter of fence-rails. A good many soldiers who couldn't
rob a bank or a store, had no compunctions about taking rails for a
fire or the building of a hut, though orders were continually issued to
prevent us. The enemy probably thought it was quite as honorable
to crack a bank as to be seen sneaking away with a fence- rail. Gen-
eral Sherman says war should be carried on without gloves, which
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 249
1863. the Southern army not only believed in, but practised.
What we did, up to the time Sheridan made his appear-
ance, was to protect property and crops ; and in the autumn Stone-
wall Jackson would make a raid up the valley of Virginia, and gather
in for his use what we had so carefully guarded. It looked to us a
little like overdoing the thing.
The " Rebs " showed mercy to no one ; anybody who had anything
worth the taking, was compelled to surrender it. Upon their entry
into Gettysburg, they demanded of the inhabitants 1,200 pounds of
sugar, 6,000 pounds of coffee, 60 barrels of flour, 100 pounds of salt,
7,000 pounds of bacon, 10 barrels of whiskey, 10 barrels of onions,
1,000 pairs of boots, and 100 hats ; or, in lieu thereof, 85,000 in cash.
In other places they collected large stores of materials, great num-
bers of horses, wagons, and cattle, which they sent across the Poto-
mac. Whenever we got anything at a store in Virginia, we were
charged an exorbitant price, as though we were all " Rothschilds ; " and
we paid for it. If any man forgot payment, a complaint was promptly
made to the colonel. We have heard a good deal said about the
sharpness of the Yankee trader, and no doubt the early settlers on
Cape Cod were qualified to hold their end up with the shrewdest,
but that was a long time ago. As compared with the astuteness of
an able-bodied Virginian, the Yankee, according to our experience
during the war, must take a back seat. Once in a while they got
worsted, but as a rule, they could give us points. One thing is
certain, we did not stand over them with a bayonet, as they did with
the people of Pennsylvania, and make them disgorge their hidden
wealth. We admit that we did appropriate rails from the fences
whenever we could without fear of arrtst. From an aesthetic point
of view, the improvement in the appearance of the landscape that
followed the removal of those unsightly fences more than com]Den-
sated for their loss. This was not accepted as a sufficient excuse, as
it might have been had they possessed any artistic appreciation of
the beauty of the country in which they lived.
250 TUBEE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
CHAPTER XIII.
1863. It having been definitely settled that the enemy had
Monday, jgf^ jjjg vicinity of Gettysburg, we started on the road
■"^ ^ ■ toward Emmitsburg, and after a inarch of six miles went
into camp about two miles north of that town, it being
certain that the rebels were sufficiently interested in their own wel-
fare not to think of doing us any harm.
Got away early and marched about twenty miles over
Tuesday, a rough mountain foot-path, camping about 8 P.M. near
July 7. the top of Catoctin Mountain, and not far from a place
called Bealsville (or Bealtsville). During the latter half
of the day it rained in torrents.
During our march to-day a very pretty scene occurred that touched
a tender chord in the hearts of the boys. Our service in Virginia
was so generally exempt from exhibitions of loyalty, that we
highly appreciated the evidences of warm-hearted feeling which
existed for Union soldiers, and it brought a good deal of en-
couragement. These outward manifestations of friendly feeling
for us were so very real, that they made a deep impression on the
mind. We were a dirty, ragged, unattractive lot ; our equipments
battered with the hard usage of many campaigns of marching, dig-
ging, and fighting. In spite of our uncomely and unsoldierly
appearance, we were enthusiastically received, and it did us a power
of good. We had halted for a rest at some cross-roads, when a lot
of pretty bright-eyed girls, all dressed in " Stars and Stripes," came
from a school near by, and forming themselves into a group, with
the smallest standing on the upper rail of a fence, waving a flag,
they sung the " Battle-cry of Freedom." It was an affecting sight
to see those pretty little creatures, so earnest and with voices so
sweet, singing to a lot of old veterans, whose eyes moistened as they
MAP N9)
THIETEESTII MASS. VOLS. 251
1863. listened in silence to the words of that noble hymn. It
was a graceful thing, which the lapse of time cannot
efface from our memory.
Marched in a drenching rain through Bealsville and
Wednesday, Middletown, halting about four hours in the latter place ;
July 8. then continued our march through South Mountain Gap,
where we halted after dark. Distance, fourteen miles.
Upon our arrival we threw up works in anticipation that the enemy
might dispute our advance, as some of our artillery had become
engaged with him just outside of Boonsboro'. We finished our
line of breastworks about midnight.
At daylight we found ourselves lying in line of battle
Thursday, on the Boonsboro' side of the mountain, about half-way
July g. down in the rear of three lines already formed, — a fact
we were ignorant of on our arrival last night. Until
reaching Middletown yesterday, our direction had been southerly ;
but on leaving that town we changed it to north-west, our noses
pointing toward Hagerstown, about twelve miles away. That is to
say that we were within twelve miles of the point where we landed
Aug. I, 1861, on our journey from home — almost two years
before. Verily we must make better time if the rebellion was to
be crushed before our term of service expired. We remained all
day in this position.
The enemy having fallen back, we marched down the
Friday, mountain to Boonsboro', that pleasant little town, through
July 10. which we marched in the days when we were a thousand
strong, now with only seventy-eight men. We found
that the people still held us in kindly remembrance, and opportu-
nity was afforded of renewing our acquaintances of two years back.
We preceded to a spot near Funkstown, about four miles from
Hagerstown, on the Baltimore Pike, where we camped for the night.
This country was as familiar to us as the scenes of our childhood,
and the old friends we met set our hearts beating with pleasure.
The people were glad enough to supply us with milk and bread,
and in fact with luxuries, such as pies and cakes.
During the last two or three days our artillery had been doing
262 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. considerable " barking," but, like a young terrier dog,
it was all bark and no bite.
On the nth of July General Lee issued to his soldiers the follow-
ing stirring appeal :
General Orders, 1
No. 76. J Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
July II, 1863.
After long and trying marches, with the fortitude that has ever characterized
the soldiers of the Army of Northern Virginia, you have penetrated the country of
our enemies, and recalled to the defence of their own soil those who were engaged
in the invasion of ours.
You have fought a fierce and sanguinary battle, which, if not attended with the
success that has hitherto crowned your efforts, was marked by the same heroic
spirit that has commanded the respect of your enemies, the gratitude of your
country, and the admiration of mankind.
Once more y6u are called upon to meet the army from which you have won on
so many fields a name that will never die.
Once more the eyes of your countrymen are turned upon you, and again do
wives and sisters, fathers and mothers, and helpless children lean for defence on
your strong arms and brave hearts.
Let every soldier remember that on his courage and fidelity depends all that
makes life worth living, — the freedom of his country, the honor of his people, and
security of his home. Let each heart grow strong in the remembrance of our glo-
rious past, and in the thought of the inestimable blessings for which we contend,
and, invoking the assistance of the Divine Providence, which has so signally
blessed our former efforts, let us go forth in confidence to secure the peace and
safety of our country.
Soldiers ! your old enemy is before you ! Win from him honors worthy of
your righteous cause — worthy of your comrades dead on so many illustrious
fields.
R. E. LEE,
General.
The South was bound to have honor and peace, if it had to
smash everything in the house.
Last night we were on picket, but were withdrawn this
Sunday, morning, when we moved across Antietam Creek and
July 12. built earthworks, facing Hagerstown. We were called
upon to-day by Senator Wilson. -As Company H was
from Natick, his place of residence, it was expected that he would
favor us with some remarks, but the rain prevented.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 253
1863. All day long could be heard firing by the skirmishers
Monday, pf ^j^j-j^ armies, and there were expectations that a battle
•" ^' would be fought. The enemy was making earnest efforts
to get across the river at Williamsport, but the water had
risen so high that it was a dangerous undertaking without bridges.
In order to test the depth and current from time to time, the
enemy would make a "nigger" attempt to ford the river daily;
threatening him with his life if he didn't comply, according to the
testimony of one of our boys, who was there as a prisoner.
Fresh troops were constantly arriving to increase our numbers,
and if the enemy would only wait long enough we would make bold
to attack him. In the meantime we became impatient at our
delay.
We have heard men say that they would as lief fight as to eat.
We are not prepared to dispute the existence of such a propensity,
though we believe it was extremely rare. We have in mind one of
these heroes, who, previous to his desertion, had excited our admira-
tion by his expressions of impatience because the opportunity for
fighting had been so long delayed. We couldn't understand why,
having enUsted as a soldier, all our fighting blood seemed to have
vanished, and we hoped that some of the overflow from his abundant
supply of courage might reach us ; but it didn't, because, as will be
seen, there wasn't any to overflow. When we came within range of
the enemy's fire at the battle of Cedar Mountain, this hero clapped
his hand on his dipper, exclaiming, " By Gad ! I've lost my dipper !"
and "lit out " to find it. Three days after, he returned to relate the
wonderful deeds he had performed while fighting in another regiment.
He was not court-martialed, though he ought to have been. It irri-
tated him very much to hear repeated day after day the stories he
had related of his valor, polished and exaggerated by the wit of
others; and so he decamped, and we never saw him any more.
His name may be found among those patriots who " struck for
home," having escaped being a hero for the lack of a good pair
of legs. One satisfaction we got out of this exhibition of heroism
was that we were a little less ashamed to say we preferred eating
to fighting. Furthermore, we began to ponder on this abnormal
254 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. appetite for human gore, which was said to exist, until
we became convinced that few men desired to fight
for the love of fighting.
According to our experience the present situation was one of the
very few occasions during three years' service when the army really
wanted to fight, excepting of course those particular moments when
men are wrought to a high pitch of excitement, such as the moment
of Pickett's repulse on the third day of Gettysburg. Lee was now
about to cross the Potomac, and the opportunity seemed at hand
when we might finish up the job so far as his army was concerned.
Here he was, his movement south retarded by a swollen river ; his
men demoralized ; encumbered with a large wagon train, including
ambulances loaded with wounded and sick, and Lee himself most
likely disheartened. Our army did not want to go back into
Virginia to engage in another series of unsuccessfiil campaigns.
For these reasons the army was anxious to fight, and our com-
manding officers were condemned in harsh and bitter terms by the
rank and file, when it was learned that Lee had crossed the river.
Discovering that the few troops of the enemy that
Tuesday, ^^^ been left in our front to scare us from activity had
July 14. disappeared, we soon learned that the rebel army had
succeeded in crossing into Virginia, making it perfecdy
safe for us to advance to the river without molestation. As one of
the boys facetiously said, " We act like a lot of scared monkeys."
In the afternoon we marched to within a mile and a half of
Williamsport, which town we left March i, 1862. Being dis-
appointed that Lee was allowed to cross without a battle, the regi-
ment was hardly in a mood to visit its old friends with whom we
spent nearly five pleasant months. Visits were paid us, however, by
several persons, from whom we heard about the boys of the Thir-
teenth who were captured at Gettysburg, and who passed through the
town with the division under General Imboden. We got considerable
information about the enemy, and learned how much they feared we
would attempt to stop their flight, as they were in no condition to
make much of an opposition. This news had a still fiirther de-
pressing effect on us, and all night long we did penance by fighting
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 255
1863. the bugs which infested the clover-field where the regi-
ment was encamped.
With respect to the operations of the Army of the Potomac at
this time, it is interesting to read the testimony given before the
Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, of which the
following is an extract :
General Sedgwick made the statement that a council of war was held by Gen-
eral Meade, July 1 2th, and that General Wadsworth, then commanding the First
Corps in the absence of General Newton, General Howard, of the Eleventh, and
General Pleasanton, commanding the cavalry, voted for attack, and that all others
present strongly opposed it.
General Wadsworth's testimony before the same committee was that a council
was held at 9 P.M. on the evening of the 12th, at Meade's headquarters. That
Meade stated briefly the condition of our forces, giving his estimates of our army
and the best information he had as to the strength of the enemy.
That Generals Sedgwick, Slocum, Sykes, French, and Hays pronounced de-
cidedly against the attack. That General Meade stated that he favored an attack.
That he came there to fight the enemy, and he did not see any good reason why
he should not fight them, but he could not take the responsibility of bringing on
an engagement against the advice of his corps commanders.
Allowing Lee to cross the Potomac River without interference had
a very demoralizing effect on the army. To march all tke way from
Gettysburg to Williamsport merely to see that Lee got safely across
the river seemed an unnecessary expenditure of muscle. The army
felt exactly as General Meade described his own feelings to be, and
it seemed a pity that his strength of mind was not equal to his
judgment. "Councils of war never fight," has been said. The
army was heartily sick of this shilly-shally way of fighting. The
growing feeling of discontent that rankled in the hearts of the men
found daily utterance as we marched along.
Instead of following Lee's army across the river at
Wednesday, Williamsport, we took a south-easterly direction, march-
July 15. ing through Bakersville, Keedysville, and Rohrersville,
to Crampton Gap, a distance of twenty miles, where we
camped. During the day we crossed a portion of the Antietam
battlefield. "The enemy was driven out of Maryland," as the
papers stated, while we were styled " The defenders of the nation's
256 THliEE YEARS IN TUE ARMY.
1863. honor." The statement didn't seem tp be quite in ac-
cordance with the facts, nor were we at all satisfied that
the " nation's honor " had been very well defended.
The second anniversary of our muster- in at Fort In-
Thursday, dependence. One year more of service.
July 16. In the meantime we continued singing " What will you
do when the war breaks the country up? "
We marched down the mountain, through Burkittsville, to near
Berlin, where we encamped — a distance of eight miles. The sutler
arrived with a load of luxuries, and he afforded almost as much pleas-
ure as the paymaster.
Yesterday we saw the Fifty-first Regiment, whose term
Saturday, of enlistment (nine months) had expired, start for home.
July 18. This regiment was placed in the second division of our
corps on the 13th inst., and fortunately for its members
they escaped the honor of dying for their country.
A pontoon bridge having been completed across the Potomac, we
crossed to Waterford, about eight miles, passing through the village
of Lovettsville.
Marched eight miles to a point beyond Hamilton, and
Sunday, ^camped in the woods near Harmony Church ; arriving,
July 19. alas ! too late for church services. A lieutenant and
six men were detailed and started on the 25 th for
Boston for the conscripts, substitutes, volunteers, and bounty-jumpers
who were assigned to the Thirteenth.
Marched at 4 A.M., reaching Middleburg at six in the
Monday, evening, a distance of sixteen miles. Two of General
July 20. Newton's staff were captured by Mosby's guerillas.
On reaching Goose Creek we found the water be-
tween three and four feet deep and without a bridge, so we were
obliged to ford it. A soldier acts a good deal like a cat when his
feet first touch the water. In this case the banks were very slipper)-,
and before they knew it, a good many made an unexpected plunge
into the stream, to the great merriment of others who had suc-
ceeded better.
We found two hundred sick and wounded rebel soldiers at this
THlRTEENTa MASS. VOLS. 257
1863. place, abandoned by the enemy, who were hastening
on towards Richmond. We also found a large quan-
tity of stores stolen from the people of Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania, which were appropriated to the uses of the Army of the
Potomac.
We spent the day in picking blackberries, which
Wednesday, were in great abundance, and hunting for new potatoes.
July 22. In the evening, about 10 o'clock, we started as rear
guard to the wagon train, and marched until 3 A.M. —
a distance of ten miles. Before reaching White Plains, the Thir-
teenth was halted and sent out for picket duty.
We were witness to-day of an exhibition of loyalty that was re-
freshing, as it was unexpected. A girl between fourteen and six-
teen years of age, while on her way to school, gave the contents of
her dinner- basket to some of the boys. " Bully for her ! " was the
exclamation. A short distance farther on, as we were passing a
house, the lady thereof gave us all the bread she had, hot from
the oven, remarking that if she had known we were coming she
would have baked more, adding that she was glad of an oppor-
tunity of doing something for " ,^i?r government." In addition to
this act of kindness, she made her boys bring water to the road for
us to drink.
As an offset to this kindness, one of the boys, after we reached
camp, made application at a house for some milk, and was captured
by Mosby's men, but was subsequently paroled, — a streak of good
fortune which did occasionally occur, even with Mosby.
Marched at 10 A.M., arriving at Warrenton at 4
Thursday, P.M., a distance of twelve miles. We passed through
July 23. the town to the west, camping on the hill. It was about
a year since we camped in this vicinity, where we had
such a feast of blackberries and sulphur-spring water.
Yesterday was spent by some of us in visiting the
Saturday, acquaintances we made on our previous visit ; reach-
July 25. ing "across the bloody chasm," and shaking hands
with some who could sink their prejudices against a
Yankee long enough to pump him for information of what was
258 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. going to be done. We were otherwise engaged in
throwing up earthworks.
This morning we were turned out at 3 A.M., and marched at five
o'clock to Warrenton Junction, twelve miles, which place we reached
at noon. Here we rested for an hour or two and then marched to
Catlett's Station, three miles, and, for some unexplained reason,
immediately returned to the Junction.
At night, while a heavy thunder-shower was coming up, and we
were congratulating ourselves at being snugly encamped, the " gen-
eral " was sounded from brigade headquarters for us to pack up,
and just as it began to rain we marched to Bealton Station, eight
miles, where we arrived at midnight, soaked through to the skin —
all on account of having no umbrellas.
The Thirty-ninth Massachusetts was added to our
Sunday, brigade to-day. Having full ranks, it looked to us more
July a6. like a brigade than a regiment.
Blackberries were all about us in great quantities, and
we made the most of our opportunity to pick them.
We changed camp during the day to a higher ground, on the
same spot where we camped June 13.
Marched to the Rappahannock Station, taking position
Monday, in the old fortifications above the bridge, where we could
July 27. easily see the rebel pickets across the river.
Orders were read to the regiment " not to build fires
nor to go to the top of the hill." Three or four of the boys, whose
curiosity could not be restrained, ventured to the summit in spite
of this command, and on their way back met an officer who
awarded them four hours' "knapsack drill" as punishment for
disobeying orders.
Our position was behind a hill. The only part of our
Tuesday, division with us was our brigade and a small cavalry
July 28. force, the remainder of the division being scattered
along the railroad to Warrenton Junction.
A small force of the enemy's cavalry were in sight across the river,
and, as we believed, too few in number to dispute our advance.
We were completely washed out by a thunder-storm to-day.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 259
1863. The second anniversary of our departure from home.
Wednesday, -j-j^g j-ailroad having been repaired to Rappahannock
Tulv 20
Station, pontoons were brought along from Alexandria.
A detail of two hundred men was made from the
brigade to construct a bridge across the river, which was completed
about midnight.
While some of us were watching the building of the bridge, one
of the boys related an incident that happened to him the night we
reached this place on our retreat, under Pope, from the Rapidan
during the Manassas campaign. It will be remembered that on
that occasion we had been on the road more than nineteen hours,
so that by the time we reached the Rappahannock River, the men
were so completely fagged out that they threw themselves on the
ground without waiting for orders, and were soon fast asleep. In a
few moments orderly-sergeants could be heard vigorously calling the
names of men for picket duty ; but all in vain, as no response was
heard. Candles were then lighted, and the detail selected from those
unfortunate beings who happened to have dumped themselves near
the sergeants. The guard being formed, it was marched back across
the river and posted. As it was reasonably certain that the enemy's
pickets would advance to as near the river as possible, great caution
had to be exercised to prevent a surprise. Our informant says that
after two or three hours of watching, his eyes closed in spite of his
responsibility and the fact that he might be shot if found asleep.
Suddenly he was startled by the noise, as he imagined, of some one
approaching ; terrified lest he had been caught napping, he thought
he saw a man crouching on the ground a short distance in front of
him. It was too dark to distinguish objects, so he dropped on his
hands and knees and slowly approached the figure, thinking of the
glory that awaited him if he should capture a rebel picket. When
within a short distance of the object, he rushed forward and grabbed
with all his might, and to his great amazement — a barrel of beans .'
At daylight he rolled it into camp and divided the contents among
his comrades. On being relieved from duty he proceeded to make
a bean stew by means of his dipper, that being the only utensil he
260 TIIBEE TEARS IN THE AliMY.
1863. had. After spending the entire day in patiently re-
plenishing the fire and dipping out beans from his
constantly overflowing cup, he found to his sorrow that they were
about as hard as pills, so he emptied them into the river, where
they have been soaking ever since. Patience and profanity accom-
plished wonders in our army, as no doubt they did in the armies of
Caesar and Hannibal ; but they failed completely when applied to
cooking beans in a tin dipper holding only a pint.
We were called up at 3 A.M., and taken to the top of
Saturday, ^.jjg j^jfj^ where we could aid in protecting the men at
^^ '■ work on the bridge.
When the bridge was completed Buford's division of cavalry and
a battery crossed and drove the enemy within two miles of Cul-
peper, which town is about eleven miles south from where we were
stationed, and where he encountered Longstreet's corps, who attacked
and repulsed our forces. At noon we crossed the river, advancing
in line of battle along the south bank, until we reached the hill
where stood the " white house," so called ; and at sunset began the
building of rifle-pits, which we completed about midnight, and then
turned in and slept "the sleep of the just."
The weather was very warm. Last evening numbers
Sunday, of Buford's cavalry came straggling in with exaggerated
August 2. stories of their losses, reminding us of what David, the
psalmist, said, that " all men are liars."
Strong evidences prevailed that we were to have a fight, as we
were ordered to remain constantly in our places, while workmen
were busy all day repairing the railroad bridge. So far the First
Corps was the only one across the Rappahannock.
We continued the work of fortifying, building intrenchments, and
felling trees for abattis.
We could plainly hear the fighting of the cavalry at Brandy
Station.
The heat continued intolerable. The railroad bridge
Monday, being completed, trains were allowed to pass with sup-
August 3. plies. Notwithstanding our expectations of a fight, the
enemy was rather shy, so we busied ourselves fighting
mosquitoes instead, and abusing Noah for taking them into the Ark.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 261
1863. Part of the regiment was on picket yesterday, and
Wednesday, remained there to-day. Buford's cavalry, stationed near
August *i
the picket line, were fighting the enemy most of the day,
and at times it looked as though there might be a gen-
eral engagement ; but the " Johnnies " retired at last.
Notwithstanding this day had been set apart by order
Thursday, of the President as a " National Thanksgiving day," the
August 6. boys were dispirited and unhappy. We seemed to be
accomplishing nothing, while the newspapers were full of
the difficulties that stood in the way of getting more men by means
of the draft. We talked overthese matters in camp and on picket
until we were thoroughly disgusted. We were no further advanced
toward Richmond than we were a year ago. The weather was un-
comfortably warm, as was also our tempers. It was while we were
in this disconsolate mood that our thoughts were unexpectedly
diverted.
There was a regiment recently assigned to our brigade whose
colonel saw fit to criticise what he was pleased to call our unsoldierly
appearance, whereupon he was promptly told to go somewhere.
This freedom of speech didn't seem to harmonize with his ideas of
subordination, though it was none of his business how we looked.
He was one of a class of men who labor under the astronomical
error of thinking the earth cannot move in its orbit nor revolve on
its axis without their consent, and who, having a feeling of respon-
sibility for all matters that take place on the land or in the sea, be-
come very wroth when anything happens to mar their beautiful
conceit. Instead of being pleased with our invitation to go some-
where, he became enraged, and called us an " armed mob ! " There
must have been a lot of bitterness in the sap of his ancestral tree
to have produced a fruit so acrid and uncomfortable as he appeared
to be to the rank and file of the Thirteenth. Since " Old Crummy "
had left us we had found no one with sufficient testiness in his
composition to notice our lack of homage to officers in other regi-
ments. He seemed to think because he held a commission in
another organization he could lecture us on our duties. When an
officer has the arrogance to fancy himself clothed with so grave a
262 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. responsibility as reforming the world, he is likely to
have a very unhappy time of it if he attempts his mis-
sionary work on the rank and file of another regiment than his own.
Stirring up a hornets' nest is the supremest enjoyment in comparison
to the annoyance experienced when a lot of private soldiers begin a
system of retaliation.
We were told that prior to the war this officer was an inspector of
the State militia, where he was in the habit of seeing troops arrayed
in fine, well-fitting uniforms and equipments, all in perfect order.
Then, if a soldier was seen with cap awry, a button lacking on his
coat, or a belt improperly adjusted, he was a subject for reprimand.
His service at the front had been too brief for him to appreciate the
condition to which a soldier could be reduced by long marches,
hard fighting, and months of picket duty. It shocked his finical
notions to see a lot of ragged, dirty soldiers, with battered canteens,
caps with visors torn or removed, and trousers shrunk nearly to
the knees. An enlisted man, though an insignificant cog in the
wheel of that great machine called the army, has it in his power,
without overstepping the bounds where punishment begins, to make
himself a very disagreeable and irritating thorn when he sets out to
be. As soon as we discovered that this officer had an excitable
temper, there was fun galore, and his fondness for lecturing afforded
us frequent opportunity for the exercise of biting wit. Among the
things we did was to give him a name befitting his rank and physi-
cal appearance, such as " Colonel Martinet," " FalstafT," and
" Hudibras," but the name which stuck was " Old Bowels." In the
scheme of aggravation which we practised, his wrath was often
stirred to his very boots, yet it was carried on with such prudence that
when he made complaint to our colonel, he found it difficult to ex-
plain just what the offence was, except in terms too general for notice,
and therefore no attention was or could be paid to his charges.
No officer with a particle of sense ever scolded the men of another
regiment, except when they were temporarily assigned to his com-
mand, because there could be but one result. As a general rule, the
rank and file of an army never showed disrespect to officers in other
regiments if they attended to their own affairs, and we might have
TIIIHrEENTlI MASS. VOLS. 263
1863. respected him if he had minded his own business, as he
ought to have done. Shakespeare must have had a man
like him in mind when he penned the following lines :
" But man, proud man,
Drest in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd,
His glassy essence, like an angry ape,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven.
As make the angels weep."
There is one thing in his favor, we are bound to say, and that is,
that we never knew him to lose his temper. He always had his
temper with him ; and, so far as we could judge from appearances,
it never registered, even in the shade, less than 100° Fahrenheit,
and was gilt-edged.
We recrossed the Rappahannock, camping on a hill in
Saturday, the bend of the river just above the spring.
August 8. The fog of melancholy which had been hovering over
the camp was dispelled when we heard of the pay-
master's arrival.
We still continued bathing in the river, making it mighty uncom-
fortable for ^t pcdiculus vestimenti, who couldn't swim.
Travelling in the wake of the paymaster came the
Sunday, sutler, whose arrival to-day was greeted with unfeigned
August 9. joy. Though the sutler collected the mortgage he held
on the instalment of pay we received, yet there was
enough left to sweeten our toil with some of the good things he
brought with him, and before night his stock was cleaned out as
completely as were the funds of those who undertook to capture
that notorious guerilla chief called "Jack Pot," whose presence in
the army often caused a good deal of sorrow.
We were still at Rappahannock Station, with eleven
Friday, months of service ahead of us.
August 14. One hundred and eighty-six recruits arrived in camp
to-day. Heretofore the men who came to us reflected
credit on themselves, the regiment, and the State. This lot con-
sisted of substitutes, bounty-jumpers, and one unfortunate con-
264 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. script. Most of this number were thieves and roughs
who were engaged in the draft riots, and were obliged
to leave New York and Boston in self-defence. They were assigned
as follows :
A .
• 23
F .
• 19
B .
. 20
G .
• 14
C .
. 18
H .
. 18
D .
• 17
I .
• 17
E .
. 22
K .
. 18
Strong men, particularly soldiers, are not easily moved to tears,
yet the cheeks of a good many men were wet as they gazed on these
ruffians drawn up in line for assignment to companies. The pride
which we felt in the membership of the Thirteenth turned to bitter-
ness at sight of these fellows.
As the roll was called we speculated as to which company
they might be assigned, though there was little choice. More
than half of them were under assumed names, and it frequently
happened at subsequent roll-calls that some of them were unable
to remember the names under which they enlisted. Among the
nationalities represented there were Frenchmen, Italians, Germans,
Spaniards, Portuguese, Costa Ricans, Greeks, Maltese, and Canadi-
ans ; a deserter from the " Louisiana Tigers," one from a Georgia
regiment, and one from an Alabama regiment. The Louisiana Tiger
had previously enlisted in Boston, was discharged, reenlisted in the
Rhode Island Cavalry, next in the Fifty-first Massachusetts, and
was now in the Thirteenth as a substitute. His subsequent en-
listments we are not informed about. Two of the number had
previously served in the Thirteenth, from which they had been dis-
charged, and having reenlisted as substitutes were unexpectedly
assigned to their old regiment.
In the last batch that were told off there were six whom it was
deemed unsafe to keep together, and they were separated by placing
them in different companies. Three of the number assigned to
Company K disappeared at once. During the first night after their
arrival forty deserted.
TBIRTEENTII MASS. VOLS. 265
1863. Of the one hundred and eighty-six, one hundred and
fifteen deserted.
Of those remaining, six were discharged for disability, twenty-six
were transferred to the navy, and one was killed in battle.
A number of the men taken prisoners at Gettysburg,
Saturday, and subsequently paroled, returned to the regiment to-
August 15. day, their parole having been declared null and void by
government agents, and they consequently resumed their
duties in the regiment.
We remained in camp at Rappahannock Station until September
16, attending to the usual camp duties, such as drilling, inspections,
picket, etc.
During our stay here the temperature changed so markedly as to
require overcoats at night, while many complained of sleeping un-
comfortably under their blanket. Orders were received to raise the
beds one foot from the ground, while the " Surgeon's call " presented
a daily symposium of sick men. The spot where we were encamped
was very unhealthy.
That enterprising assassin, Mosby, came in for a share of Gen-
eral Lee's attention, as will be seen by the following :
Headquarters, Orange, August 18, 1863.
General Stuart, Commanding, etc. :
General: The report of Major Mosby, of fourth instant, relative to his
expeditions towards Fairfax Court-House and below, has been forwarded to the
War Department. I greatly commend his boldness and good management, which
is the cause of his success. I have heard that he has now with him a large num-
ber of men, yet his expeditions are undertaken with very few, and his attention
seems more directed to the capture of sutler's wagons, etc., than to the injury of
the enemy's communications and outposts. The capture and destruction of
wagon-trains is advantageous; but the supply of the Federal army is carried on
by the railroad. If that should be injured, it would cause him to detach largely
for its security, and thus weaken his main army. This threat of punishing citi-
zens on the line for such attacks must be met by meeting similar treatment to
his soldiers when captured.
I do not know the cause for undertaking his expeditions with so few men, —
whether it is from policy or the difficulty of collecting them. I have heard of
his men — among them officers — being in the rear of this army, selling cap-
tured goods, sutler's stores, etc. This had better be attended to by others. It
266 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. has also been reported to me that many deserters from this army
have joined him. Among them have been seen members of the
Eighth Virginia Regiment. If this is true, I am sure it must be without the
knowledge of Major Mosby; but I desire you to call his attention to this matter,
to prevent his being imposed on.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
R. E. LEE,
General.
Our old friend Boteler, whom we captured in the summer of 1861,
and who we thought was not particularly interested in a prosecution
of the war, seems to have acquired considerable sanguinary ani-
mosity after his release by General Banks, at Sharpsburg, August,
1 86 1, according to the following letter:
Headquarters Cavalry Division,
August 19, 1863.
Hon. James A. Sedden, Secretary of War :
Sir : In a conversation with Major Mosby, the partisan leader, I suggested to
him the use of Rains' percussion torpedoes on the Orange and Alexandria Rail-
road. He cordially approved of the suggestion, and requested me to write to
you for a supply of the explosives in question. If, therefore, you concur with
us in thinking that much damage may be done to the enemy by means of these
bombs placed beneath the rails of that particular road, which is used exclusively
for the transportation of troops and army supplies, you will confer a favor upon
Major Mosby by ordering him to be supplied with them immediately.
A. R. BOTELER.
P.S. — General Stuart suggests that some one acquainted with the use of the tor-
pedoes be sent up with them, as they are dangerous things in unskilful hands.
This method of exit might be called going to heaven — cross-roads.
In accordance with the following communication five deserters
were shot :
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
August 27, 1863.
His Excellency Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States :
Walter, Rionese, Folancy, Lai, and Kuhn were to have been executed yester-
day. Their execution was postponed by my order till Saturday, the 29th, that
time might be given to procure the services of a Roman Catholic priest to assist
them in preparing for death. They are substitute conscripts who enlisted for the
purpose of deserting after receiving the bounty; and being the first of this class
whose cases came before me, I believed that humanity, the safety of this army.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 267
1863. and the most vital interests of the country required their prompt
execution as an example, the publicity given to which might, and, I
trust in God will, deter others from imitating their bad conduct. In view of these
circumstances, I shall, therefore, inform them their appeal to you is denied.
GEORGE G. MEADE,
Major- General Commanding.
If they enlisted for the purpose of deserting, then it was their
vocation. As Falstaff said, " 'Tis no sin for a man to labor in his
vocation." The execution of these men didn't deter our festive
cutthroats from leaving as soon as opportunity offered.
In an order received from brigade headquarters to-day occurs the
following paragraph :
II. A looseness and carelessness has been observed by guards and senti-
nels. Officers on duty are particularly required to correct every departure from
the Regulations. Sentinels will not be allowed to sit, read, or talk on their posts,
or bring their pieces to an order; but will habitually walk their posts, always
vigilant, strictly observing and enforcing orders. At " retreat " the Officer of the
Guard will parade and inspect his guard.
We did observe a " looseness and carelessness," as the brigade
commander says, though it was in brigade orders, of which the
paragraph just quoted is a sample.
An order dated Sept. 11, 1863, was received from Washington,
that
After the expiration of ninety days (June 25), volunteers serving in three years'
organizations, who may reenlist for three years, or the war, m companies or
regiments to whi<;h they now belong, and who may have, at the date of reenlist-
ment, less than one year to serve, shall be entitled to the aforesaid bounty and
premium of $402, to be paid in the manner herein provided for other troops
reentering the service.''
On the 13th of September we received the following order:
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
September 12, 1863.
Commanding Officer First Corps :
I am instructed to inform you that a movement — reconnaissance — will be
made to-morrow in the direction of Culpeper Court House, and the commanding
general orders that you hold your command in readiness to move at short notice,
in case the development of the movement should be required.
Very respectfully, etc.,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- General,
268 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.-
1863. Subsequently the Second Corps was substituted for
the First, which caused General Newton to feel that a
reflection was cast on his corps, and it prompted him to address a
letter to that effect to General Meade, and the following reply was
received :
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
September 14, 1863.
Maj.-Gen. John Newton, Commanding First Corps :
General: Your communication of the 13th instant, in reference to the detail
of the Second Corps to support the cavalry reconnoissance sent in front of the
army yesterday, has been laid before the commanding general, who regrets to
learn that the detail has occasioned a feeling of disappointment among the officers
and men of your corps.
The considerations which led the commanding general to select the Second
Corps for this service were chiefly that the First Corps formed part of a line the
continuity of which the general did not wish to break, as he could not foresee the
consequences which might flow from an advance, and he was by no means certain
that the reconnoitring party, together with its support, might not be driven back
upon that Hne, and, moreover, he had in view the fact that the requiring on its part
unusual watchfulness, and far more exhausting duties than had been performed by
the corps in rear. The commanding general trusts that this explanation will
satisfy you that in assigning the Second Corps to the duty above indicated no
distrust was entertained of the qualification of the First Corps to perform the ser-
vice equally well.
I am directed to add that, while the commanding general has given in this
instance his reasons for issuing a particular order, he does not admit the right of
any subordinate commander to call in question his acts, and he regrets that you
should have thought it proper to do so.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
The soundness of the last paragraph just saved the apology from
being a success.
The following letter from Jeff. Davis to General Lee is in-
teresting :
Richmond, Va., Aug. 11, 1863.
Gen. R. E. Lee, Commanding Army of Northern Virginia :
Yours of the 8th instant has been received. I am glad you concur so entirely
with me as to the want of our country in this trying hour, and am happy to add
that after the first depression consequent upon our disaster in the West, indications
have appeared that our people will exhibit that fortitude which we agree in be-
lieving is alone needful to secure ultimate success.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 269
1863, It well became Sidney Johnston, when overwhelmed by a sense-
less clamor, to admit the rule that success is the test of merit; and
yet there has been nothing which I have found to require a greater effort of
patience than to bear the criticisms of the ignorant, who pronounce everything a
failure which does not equal their expectations or desires, and can see no good
result which is not in the line of their own imaginings. I admit the propriety of
your conclusions, that one officer who loses the confidence of his troops should
have his position changed, whatever may be his ability, but when I read the
sentence I was not at all prepared for the application you were about to make.
Expressions of discontent in the public journals furnish but little evidence of the
sentiment of an army. I wish it were otherwise, even though all the abuse of my-
self should be accepted as the results of honest observation. I say I wish I could
feel that the public journals were not generally partisan nor venal.
Were you capable of stooping to it, you could easily surround yourself with
•those who would fill the press with your laudations, and seek to exalt you for
what you had not done, rather than detract from the achievements which will
make you and your army the subject of history and object of the world's admi-
ration for generations to come.
I am truly sorry to know that you still feel the effects of the illness you suf-
fered last spring, and can readily understand the embarrassments you experience
in using the eyes of others, having been so much accustomed to make your own
reconnoissance. Practice will, however, do much to relieve that embarrassment,
and the minute knowledge of the country which you have acquired will render
you less dependent for topographical information.
But suppose, my dear friend, that I were to admit, with all their implications,
the points which you present, where am I to find that new commander who is to
possess the greater ability which you believe to be required? I do not doubt the
readiness with which you would give way to one who could accomplish all that
you have wished, and you will do me the justice to believe that if Providence
should kindly offer such a person for our use, I would not hesitate to avail of his
services.
My sight is not sufficiently penetrating to discover such hidden merit, if it exists,
and I have but used to you the language of sober earnestness when I have im-
pressed upon you the propriety of avoiding all unnecessary exposure to danger,
because I felt our country could not bear to lose you. To ask me to substitute
you by some one in my judgment more fit to command, or who would possess more
of the confidence of the army, or of the reflecting men of the country, is to de-
mand an impossibility.
It only remains for me to hope that you will take all possible care of yourself,
that your health and strength may be entirely restored, and that the Lord will pre-
serve you for the important duties devolved upon you in the struggle of our suf-
fering country for the independence which we have engaged in war to maintain.
As ever, very respectfully and truly yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
270 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. General Lee's letter is not to be found ; but it is evi-
dent on reading the foregoing that his mind was very
much disturbed at unfriendly criticisms on the result of his Gettys-
burg campaign ; so much so as to prompt his resignation.
A general alarm was sounded at 3 A.M., whereupon
Wednesday, we crossed the Rappahannock River, and marched by
Sept. 16. way of Brandy Station and Stevensburg to Mountain
Creek, at the foot of Pony Mountain, near Culpeper, a
distance of twelve miles.
An order was received to-day that " until further orders, five days'
bread and small rations, including salt, will be carried by troops in
their knapsacks, in addition to the subsistence stores they are re-
quired under existing instructions to take in their haversacks."
How the mules must have grinned at that order !
At I P.M. we started with eight days' rations, and
Thursday, marched round Pony Mountain to Racoon Ford, a dis-
Sept. 24. tance of five miles, and camped on ground vacated by
the Twelfth Corps.
The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were sent to Tennessee.
An order was received to-day that " until further
Friday, orders conscripts, substitutes, or other new troops will
Sept. 25. not be detailed for picket duty, and will not be con-
sidered on the roster for such.
" While in camp they must be drilled at least four hours daily,
and otherwise instructed in their duties."
To our mind this was a wise order. As one of the boys pithily
remarked when these recruits arrived from Boston, " If those fellows
are trusted on picket the army will soon be in h — 1."
On the 27 th we moved our camp about three miles
Tuesday, up the river, and to-day we moved another mile in the
Sept. 29. direction of Mitchell's Station.
The river at this point was only fifteen yards wide, and
the rebel pickets on the other side were so near that we could easily
discern each other's features. The position of their camp is supe-
rior to ours, inasmuch as it is on high ground, while ours is situated
on a level plain. Their camp is near enough to ours to hear the
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 271
1863. sound of a band which frequently played, as though
serenading some officer. They still had money enough
for bands. A hand-organ would have satisfied us — that is, if it
was a good one.
The division was turned out to-day to see a soldier
Friday, shot for desertion, or sleeping on his post — we cannot
October a. recall which. It made no difference to him which it
was.
The men were busy at work building huts, hoping that
our present location might be continued through the winter.
A contraband by the name of George Washington joined the regi-
ment to-day, and entered upon the duties of an officer's servant. We
were glad to see George Washington, though he was much darker
than his pictures represent him to be, and had black, curly hair.
We were on good terms with the enemy's pickets, who swapped
lies with us daily.
In an order received this day from brigade head-
Friday, quarters it was stated that " it has been observed that
October g. in most of the regiments of this brigade there is a defi-
ciency of axes, axe-slings, hatchets, spades, etc., and,
as a consequence, the men suffer. Every company should have a
proper proportion of these articles, besides those required by the
pioneers.'' As we recollect, there was more suffering ixorsx a surplus
of these articles than by reason of a deficiency. At least it was so
when we were marching.
Were in line shortly after i A.M., and marched at 3
Saturday, o'clock to a point on the Rapidan, about a mile from
October 10. Racoon Ford, a distance of five miles, though we did not
reach that spot until 2 P.M., owing to frequent delays.
A cavalry reconnoisance disclosed the fact that the enemy were
making a flank movement, so we moved to the rear and camped
near Stevensburg about 1 1 P.M.
We were turned out at 3 A.M. to march, but were de-
Sunday, layed until 9 o'clock by the passing of other divisions,
October 11. after which we pointed our noses in a northerly direc-
tion, crossing the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, which
272 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. we waded about 3 P.M., the water being up to our waists.
We then camped on the heights, within sound of the
cavalry fighting at Stevensburg. The march was ten miles.
The Thirteenth and another regiment moved down
Monday, the river a short distance, occupying rifle-pits during the
October 12. day. The boys didn't fail to get in their chaff on " Old
Bowels.''
We marched at midnight.
„ Having started at midnight, last night, we marched all
Tuesday, . , , „, , . ^ , ,
October 13 ^^Y' P^ssmg through Warrenton Junction, Catlett s, and
other familiar places, until we reached Bristow Station, at
9 P.M., after a tramp of thirty miles. Walking is good exercise for
people of sedentary habits, which, of course, did not include us.
The government hadn't got on to this idea in October, 1863.
Fighting was heard all day on our left flank.
We were halted at Warrenton Junction, forming in line of battle
on our camp-ground of April, 1862, long enough to allow the wagon
train to get ahead.
Started early and marched as " flankers " for the corps,
e nes ay, jgj(,j,jj,g Centreville about noon. Distance ten miles.
October 14,
Looking back from the heights at Centreville we could
see the smoke and hear the sound of heavy firing, as though some
hard fighting was going on in the vicinity of Bristow Station.
Soon after our arrival we were moved out on the Warrenton pike,
and deployed as skirmishers in advance of the brigade, and then
moved on to the Stone bridge over Bull Run, where we were thrown
out as pickets. No fires or lights of any kind allowed.
Moved back across Cub Run to a hill near Centreville,
Thursday, where we remained until the 19th.
October 15. The fighting that we heard yesterday was by the
Second Corps, which was engaged with the enemy at
Gainesville, and which it repulsed.
Marched at 8 A.M. to Hay Market, which place we
Monday, reached, after several slight skirmishes, in the afternoon ;
October 19. distance twelve miles. On our way we crossed the
battlefield where we fought August 30, 1862.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 273
»863. Since our last visit to Hay Market the entire town,
with the exception of a church, had been burnt by order
of General Stahl, it is said, as a punishment to the inhabitants for
firing on Union troops.
As we were going into camp General Stuart made a dash on to
our picket line, capturing some pickets, besides killing two or three.
In consequence thereof we were kept under arms all night.
About 4 P.M. we marched through Thoroughfare Gap,
Tuesday, going into camp about midnight on the hills on the west
October 20. side of the mountain. It was about eighteen months since
we first landed at Thoroughfare Gap. Those of us who
still preserved a fondness for beautifvil scenery had an opportunity
of gratifying it to-day. In addition to the natural beauties of the
spot, it was as fine an agricultural section as one could wish to see.
At 7 A.M. we retraced our steps through the Gap to
Saturday, Hay Market, then south to Gainesville, fording Broad
October 24. Run, and on to Bristow Station, camping on the recent
battlefield ; making a distance of fifteen miles. The
march, by reason of the rain and muddy condition of the roads,
was a wearying one.
All this marching and countermarching, forming lines of battle
and skirmishing, was to prevent Lee's attempt to turn the right flank
of our army and interpose himself between us and our base of sup-
plies, with the possibility of an attack on Washington, or transfer-
ring the next battle-ground from Virginia to the States north of the
Potomac.
We were now camped on the farm of General Ewell, of the rebel
army. The whole estate was in ruins ; houses destroyed, orchards
cut down, and every fence-rail burnt. Twelve days ago his own
army camped on this spot, and probably his men burnt the rails, as
our army was not allowed to touch rails.
Moved camp a mile or so to the westward into a pine
Saturday, grove, near Kettle Run, which we found a much more
October 31. agreeable spot. Nights were getting cold enough for a
furnace fire, but we believe furnaces were not allowed
in the army.
274 THREE YEAIitI liV THE ABMY.
CHAPTER XIV.
1863. Marched at 4 P.M. to Catlett's Station, ten miles,
Thursday, j^jj^j bivouacked. We had seen so much of these places,
5- we wished General Meade would hasten on to Richmond,
where we could spend the winter among the " sassiety "
of that city. When we were in this vicinity in the spring of 1862,
it was " On to Gordonsville," but now it was different.
" Learn to labor and to wait,"
says Longfellow ; but that was written " befo' de war."
Changed camp to high ground on the east side of the
Friday, Station.
Nov. 6. Last week, while at Bristow Station, an old friend of
the regiment, a commissary of subsistence, made his
appearance in our camp, and before his departure agreed to sell to
the officers a barrel of whiskey, which was purchased by subscription.
Of course it was to be used for medicinal purposes only, that is,
when the men were liable to become unfitted for duty by unusual
fatigue or exposure during bad weather. Now, it so happened that
the camp was excessively dusty, making the cobwebs in the throat
impenetrable, and this whiskey was the only thing that would remove
the obstructions. When it came to pass that the possession of this
whiskey was known among the men, we pestered the lives nearly out
of the officers with requests for this very effective medicine, with
more or less success according to the disposition of the officer.
When exposure seemed a frail and unsubstantial reason, we in-
vented one. If this narrative of ours should by chance be read
by one of our temperance friends, he will hold up his hands in
horror, possibly, at this statement. We can only say, in excuse,
that we were too young to appreciate what a terrible enemy we were
THIRTEENTa MASS. VOLS. 275
1863. fooling with. As soon as our service ended, having no
further need of stimulants, we — But never mind what
has happened since, we are relating only what occurred while we
were in the service.
The Sixteenth Maine boys had another streak of hard luck to-day.
As they went into camp behind us, in the tall grass, it took fire, and
before you could count ten, was all ablaze, leaving nothing behind
but piles of blackened knapsacks, clothing, and equipments.
Reveille at 4 A.M. Started on the march at eight
Saturday, o'clock. The whole army in motion, the First, Sec-
Nov. 7. ond, and Third Corps taking roads leading to Kelly's
Ford, and the Fifth and Sixth advancing on Rappahan-
nock Station. The Third Corps had the lead, and became engaged
at the ford at the same time the Sixth was fighting at the station.
We halted at Morrisville, about three miles from the river. The
woods being on fire, the air was full of smoke and cinders, making
the atmosphere stifling.
At daylight we crossed the Rappahannock River at
Sunday, Kelly's Ford, and marched on to Brandy Station. We
Nov. 8. saw nothing about the place that suggested so alcoholic
a name.
There was a painful lack of intelligence on the part of the com-
mander of the First, Second, and Third Corps to-day, for there
seemed to be no reason but stupidity in the way of our capturing a
force of rebel artillery and a wagon-train.
It seems that when the enemy was discovered a detachment was
sent out on a flank movement. Before it was completed the re-
mainder of our troops, which included the Thirteenth, was advanced
out of the woods in their front, thereby disclosing to the enemy our
approach, and he immediately withdrew to Culpeper.
We had been long enough in the service to understand what this
simple movefnent meant, and took a good deal of interest in its
development. It was exactly the movement that Stonewall Jackson
attempted to play on us the day we went to Newtown from Win-
chester, March 13, 1862, and the lessons that Jackson taught us we
were not likely to forget.
276 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. If the honorable major-general commanding this
movement had been standing about some of our camp-
fires that night he would have heard a pretty free discussion of his
qualifications as a major-general.
Instead of pushing on to Richmond we took another
Monday, Step back. At 4 P.M. we again turned our faces north-
Nov. 9. ward, crossing the river at Rappahannock Station, through
Bealton to Lickinig Run, in a snow-storm, halting at
I A.M. not far from Warrenton Junction. The weather was cold,
except in the fire, which was pretty nearly covered by coffee-dippers.
We got to bed about 2 A.M., which is altogether too late for boys
away from home.
" D — n the service ! " says some one, the other side, as his coffee
upset, very nearly putting out the fire. Then a chorus of " Oh,
h — ^1 ! " was shouted.
[Circular.] Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Nov. 9, 1863, 12 M.
The following movements of troops are ordered, and will take place at once :
1. The Fifth Corps, Major-General Sykes, will take position on north side of
Mountain Run, at Paoli Mills, sending a division to Kelly's Ford to guard the
bridges. This division will post a brigade midway between Bealton and Morris-
ville, at the point where the road to Kelly's Ford running to Carter's house leaves
the Morrisville road. The division will picket so as to cover fhe supply trains
moving by that route, and the working party on the railroad.
2. The Second Corps, Major-General Warren, will take post between Paoli
Mills and Brandy Station, in such manner as to have good communication with
the corps at those two points.
3. The Third Corps, Major-General French, will remain at Brandy Station.
4. The Sixth Corps, Major-General Sedgwick, will move to Welford's Ford,
on Hazel River. The divisioij of this corps at Kelly's Ford and Rappahannock
Station will rejoin the corps upon being relieved.
5. The First Corps, Major-General Newton, will be placed as follows : One
division at Rappahannock Station, with a brigade at Beverly Ford ; the three
brigades of another division will be : One at Bealeton, one at Liberty, and one
near the railroad crossing Licking Run. These two divisions will picket so as to
cover the supply, the trains passing along the route of the railroad, and the work-
ing parties on the road.
The division of the First Corps now guarding the railroad from Manassas to
Warrenton Junction will remain as now posted. The protection of the railroad
is assigned to Major-General Newton.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 277
1863. 6. The Artillery Reserve will be in the vicinity of Rappahan-
nock Station.
7. One brigade of Gregg's division of cavalry will take post at Morrisville, and
will picket toward Hartwood Church and the crossings of the lower Rappahan-
nock. The other brigade will take post at Fayetteville, and picket toward 'Water-
loo and beyond Warrenton. Kilpatrick's division of cavalry will take post at
Stevensburg and picket toward the crossings on the Rapidan below the railroad
crossing. Buford's division of cavalry will be posted at Culpeper Court House,
and will picket toward the crossings of Robertson's River and toward the right.
8. Headquarters will be in the vicinity of Brandy Station.
By command of Major-General Meade,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
Our corps vi^as now strung along the railroad from
Tuesday, Manassas to Rappahannock Station, a distance of twenty-
Nov. 10. five miles.
Details were made daily to work on the railroad,
which was being rebuilt as rapidly as possible. This work, with
picket duty, completely occupied our time.
The ground about us had been so often used as a parking-place
for wagon-trains, artillery, and cavalry, that it had become strewn
with oats and corn, scattered by the horses and mules. After their
departure, it was taken possession of by quail, partridge, and other
birds, as a feeding-ground, so that upon our arrival we found
an abundance of game. As we were not allowed to fire our guns,
except at the enemy, we were forced to substitute clubs, stones, etc.,
in order to supply our larder. Broiled partridge and an occasional
noggin of "commissary" smoothed off the ragged edge of our ser-
vice a good deal.
If it hadn't been for guerillas that infested the neighborhood, we
might have had a peaceful time, as the enemy in front of the picket
line were less demonstrative than usual.
At daylight we pulled up stakes and marched six
Monday, miles, and went into camp on the east side of the rail-
Nov. 23. road, at the forty-ninth mile-post from Alexandria, and
two miles from Rappahannock Station. We had been
near this spot so many times we had lost the count. Whichever
direction we took in a campaign we generally brought up at Rappa-
hannock Station.
278 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. This was a great day. The sutler arrived with-a large
Wednesday, amount of goods, which we purchased for the morrow.
ov. 25. ^^ j^g ^^g jj^g ^jjjy gyjjgj. about, there was a great rush
from other regiments to take advantage of his presence.
Among others were members of the Sixteenth Maine ; and as some
of them added to their already overflowing cup of misfortunes, by
losing their watches and pocket-books, they promptly accused us of
stealing them. Well, we must allow there was reason for this accu-
sation, for it couldn't be rubbed out that we had as fine a band of
thievish recruits as could be found anywhere, and they just doted on
the Sixteenth's men, whose good old honest State of Maine ways held
no chance against their deft skill as pickpockets. Now, we had a very
simple way of dealing with these Hessians that our much-beloved
State sent out to mingle in companionship with us and teach us how
to overcome honesty, and that was to put all our diamonds, watches,
pocket-books, and silverware in the safe, while all movables, such
as dippers, hardtack, etc., we chained. Whenever we laid a knife
down we put a guard over it with a loaded musket. With these pre-
cautions we managed to hang on to most of our things until these
dear comrades of ours stole away to reenlist in some other regi-
ment, or to crack a bank.
Thanksgiving day ! We had laid out for a good time
Thursday, and a good dinner ; such a kind of a dinner as our skill
Nov. 26. and ingenuity, aided by the sutler's store, could prepare ;
but the exigences of the service required us to move, so
at daylight we marched, crossing the Rappahannock River as the
sun rose ; thence to Mountain Run, which we crossed on a pontoon
bridge about 9 A.M. at Paoli Mills ; thence to the Rapidan River,
which we crossed at 10 P.M. at the Culpeper Mine Ford; then
climbed the heights and halted for the night about four miles from
Chancellorsville, having marched seventeen miles. A large part of
the regiment was then sent out on picket. This was our roast
turkey and plum-pudding.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 279
1863. Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Friday, November 27, 1863, 12.15 A.M.
Nov. 27.
[Circular.]
The following movements of troops are ordered for to-day, November 27 :
1. Second Corps, Major-General Warren, will move at 7 A.M. along the turn-
pike to Old Verdierville.
2. Third Corps, Major-General French, will move at 7 A.M. on the Robert-
son's Tavern road, and close on the Second Corps.
3. Fifth Corps, Major-General Sykes, will move at 7 A.M. to New Verdier'/ille.
4. First Corps, Major-General Newton, will move not later than 7 A.M. on
the route of the Fifth Corps, and close up on the Fifth Corps.
5. Sixth Corps, Major-General Sedgwick, will move as soon as the Third
Corps has cleared the road, and, as his artillery, etc., has joined him, close up on
the Third Corps. One division of the Sixth Corps will remain near the river until
the trains have crossed at Germanna and the bridges are taken up.
6. The ammunition trains, ambulances, etc., directed to remain on the north
bank of the river, will cross and join their corps, those of the Second, Third, and
Sixth Corps, at Germanna; those of the Fifth and First at Culpeper Ford.
4. Reserve artillery will cross at Germanna, follow the route of the Second
Corps, and halt before reaching Robertson's Tavern, so as not to interfere with
the march of the Third Corps.
8. The chief of cavalry will direct a force of that arm to move in advance on
the roads in front of the army.
9. The trains, under the direction of the chief quartermaster of the army,
will cross at Culpeper and Ely's Fords, and be parked in rear of the army. They
will be guarded by Merritt's cavalry division.
g^. Commanders of leading corps will keep up communication with each
other and with the corps in their rear ; those of the rear corps with the corps in
front. The flank next the enemy will be carefully watched, and the usual precau-
tions against approach will be taken. The commanding general will be kept
advised of everything that occurs.
10. Headouarters will be at Robertson's Tavern.
By command of Major-General Meade,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
In obedience to the foregoing order we were turned out at 4 A.M.,
and by 5 o'clock were on our way over the plank-road leading to
Fredericksburg, and a crooked, hilly road it turned out to be. After
following this road for a few miles we turned from it, taking a cart-
path through the woods to Robertson's Tavern, and thence to the
280 THREE YEARS IX THE ARMY.
1863. Orange Court House pike, which we reached about 10.30
P.M. and halted for the night.
The regiment was shortly after sent out on picket, having first
received instructions from General Robinson to be cautious about
firing, as the Fifth Corps was somewhere in front, and the Second
Corps on our left. There was excellent reason for this precaution, as
the country was full of guerillas. In the order of march to-day the
Fifth Corps had the lead, and between it and our corps was a small
wagon-train, a part of which was led off from the road into the
woods by a band of guerillas in Federal uniform. The drivers were
murdered, the mules led away, and the wagons burned before we
had time to realize what was being done. A daring thing like this
could not have succeeded except through the protection afforded
by the uniforms. It caused some delay in our march, and was
likely to make the men on picket feel somewhat nervous ; hence
the caution about firing.
The natural repugnance we had to being hanged made us dread
being caught by Mosby.
The distance marched was twenty miles.
When the announcement was made that we were going to Rob-
ertson's Tavern, it filled our minds with visions of " flowing bowls,"
which landlords fill until they run over, according to the song. We
thought what we might do on arriving there if we were major-gen-
erals, but we were not. However, we couldn't resist picturing what
this tavern might be, and so we amused ourselves by discussing
the probabilities of broad open fireplaces and hot flip until some
one called out " Shut up ! There's Robertson's Tavern ! " and it
turned out to be the most ordinary-looking tenement-house, without
the remotest suggestion of comfort or hospitality associated with the
time-honored name of tavern.
The following occurrence taken from a letter written by comrade
Rollins shows so clearly the vicissitudes of a soldier's life that we
gladly give it place in our narrative, particularly as the detail was
composed of men from the Thirteenth, and was made soon after our
halt to-night :
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 281
1863. We were tired, of course, but soldiers are never so tired but they
must build fires and cook their coffee. Fuel was plentiful, and the
fires burned up brightly and lighted the recesses of the deep woods, and called out
the chirps of the katydids and all kinds of insects in the foliage and tree-tops; a
feeling of comfort crept over us as we sipped our coffee and looked forward to a
good night's rest snugly in our blankets. I was counting on this myself, when the
adjutant of the regiment approached me and delivered his message : " Lieutenant
R , you are detailed to take command of a detail of twenty-five men of this
regiment, and you will report to General Robinson at 4 o'clock to-morrow morn-
ing for instructions." My pleasant frame of mind suddenly vanished, as I sub-
duedly inquired, "Where shall I find General Robinson?" while at tHe same
time surmises of the nature of the duty required were floating through my mind,
and I barely recollected the adjutant pointing to a fire a little way distant where I
could see some men putting up a small tent for the general's use. The most
probable duty I could think of to be required was to be that of advanced skir-
mishers; but then it was too small a detail for such duty. Then came the thought
of guarding wagons, or something of that sort, but there were no wagons with us,
and I was forced to give up my fruitless conjectures. Still my mind would con-
stantly revert to it, and the suspense I knew would prevent my full enjoyment of
sleep. I could hear the adjutant as he visited the bivouac fires of each company,
going through with his stereotyped order to the first sergeant as follows : " You
will make a detail of two men," or " three," as the case might be, " to report
to Lieutenant R , ready to march at 4 o'clock to-morrow morning. I also
heard responses from the men, sometimes half a dozen together, which pleased me
more. They were like this: "Put my name down;'' — "I'll go," etc. I had
not been commissioned many months, but I had acquired a reputation — whether
deservedly or not it does not become me to say — that led the men whenever I
was to take charge of a picket or skirmish line to volunteer to go with me.
Of this I candidly say I was proud, and am to this day. I slept fitfully
during the night, and at the hour ordered marched my men to the gen-
eral's tent, when his adjutant-general appeared, and, taking me a little
aside, gave me a large sealed envelope, saying it was directed to General
Sykes, and that I was to deliver it to him. While he was telling me this. General
Robinson, probably overhearing him through the thin cloth of the tent, put his
head out of the opening and called me to him. Then he went on to give me mi-
nute directions as follows: That I should retrace the cart-path by which we
had come into these woods until I came to the plank-road; then turn to the right,
and follow the plank-road toward Orange Court House until I met General Sykes
with his division, and to personally deliver this package to him. Then he ex-
plained his reasons for sending the despatch in this manner. He said he had
only two or three mounted orderlies with him, whom he could not spare, and that
the woods were infested with guerillas, who might attack a mounted messenger,
but would hardly dare attack my detail. That I must look out for a surprise, and
not allow any party to approach me, even if clad in our uniform, as almost all the
282 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. guerillas were so clothed. That after I had delivered the document
I should fall in with General Sykes' troops, and rejoin my regiment
when I could find it. He again cautioned me about delivering the message only
to General Sykes, and bade me good-morning.
Soon after getting on the march as directed, a light rain commenced to fall, and
by the time the plank-road was reached it was daylight. The road was only a plank-
road in name; it probably was once a plank-road. We marched on and on, with
no signs of any troops approaching. I began to think my orders, if carried out
to the letter, would take us into the heart of the Confederacy, and that General
Robinson might have been misinformed as to General Sykes' route. I looked at
my watch, and it was half-past seven. Still I kept on. At last, away down a
straight stretch of the road, I could see something coming. I did not know
whether it was friend or foe, but immediately marched my men into a clump of
bushes and small trees by the roadside, and halted. The men threw themselves on
the ground to rest, while I kept a look-out for what was approaching. I could
only make out a small body of mounted men, ten or fifteen in number; but as
they came nearer I could discern that a body of infantry was some distance behind
them, and came at once to the conclusion, which afterwards I found correct, that
that it was General Sykes and his staff some distance in front of the head of the
column of infantry. When they had approached within thirty or forty rods, I
called my men to attention, and formed a line on the side of the road awaiting
them. Much to our amusement, when they discovered us. General Sykes and his
staff reined up their horses very suddenly, and acted as though they were in doubt
whether to remain where they were or return to the head of the column of troops
coming. They probably feared that we were rebel guerillas. They did not go
back, however, but waited until the column came up, and then came along with
the troops.
Knowing General Sykes, I gave the order to " present arms ! " and stepped out
into the road with the papers in my left hand, and, saluting with my sword, said,
"General Sykes, I have despatches for you." He returned the salute, and I
brought my men to " shoulder arms ! " and handed him the envelope. Meantime,
the column behind was halted. He read the papers very carefully; and then,
turning to me, said : " You must have had quite a tramp with your men. You
had better fall into any opening in the line between regiments and keep along
with us. \'ou may not see your regiment for several days." I let several regi-
ments pass, and finally fell into an opening in the line. We were tired, wet, and
muddy from marching, and were objects of much curiosity to the " Regulars "
comprising Sykes' division; the officers would come alongside of me to inquire
where we were from. I had now to begin to favor my men, as they were becom-
ing tired out. So I would drop out of an opening and let five or six regiments
pass, and then file into another gap. This kept on till we got to the last regiment
in the line. About this time we came up to a wagon park on a hill, when I filed
out of the road and halted near fires built by teamsters, and we rested and cooked
our coffee. It was past noon, and we learned from the wagoners that a line of
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 283
1863. battle was in front about a mile in a piece of woods skirting a stream
called Mine Run. We had got back to a point about three miles
west of the one we had left in the morning. After a good rest we left the wagon
park and marched forward to the line of battle, striking troops of the Sixth Corps.
After a deal of searching and marching we found where our regiment had been ;
but they were then on the skirmish line. We awaited their return, which occurred
the next morning at daylight.
Headquarters First Corps,
November 28, 1863.
Major-General Humphreys, Chief of Staff, Army of the Potomac:
The pickets I ordered advanced on my left report they cannot cross on account
of the depth of mud and water. They also report a constant movement of the
enemy toward our left.
Very respectfully,
JOHN NEWTON,
Major- General.
The following extract from Swinton's " Campaigns of the Army of
the Potomac " will be of interest in showing the purposes of the
campaign :
Judging from the experience of such military operations as had been attempted
during the previous years at the season now reached, it might have been inferred
that the army could do nothing better than go into winter quarters and await the
coming spring before entering upon a new campaign. But General Meade felt
that the condition of the public mind would hardly brook delay; and being him-
self very eager for action, he anxiously watched a favorable opportunity to deliver
battle. Such an opportunity he thought he saw towards the end of November;
and he then planned an operation known as the " Mine Run move" — an opera-
tion which deserved better success than it met.
It was learned that Lee, while resting the right of his army on the Rapidan
near Morton's Ford, had left the lower fords of the river at Ely's, Culpeper Mine,
Germanna, and Jacob's Mills uncovered, and depended upon the defence of that
flank upon a line of intrenchments which he had constructed perpendicular to the
river and extending along the left bank of a small tributary of the Rapidan named
Mine Run, which flows almost at right angles with the former stream, and empties
into it at Morton's Ford. Relying for the security of his right upon that line,
Lee had placed his force in cantonments covering a wide extent of country; so
that while Ewell's corps held position from Morton's Ford to Orange Court House,
Hill's corps was distributed from that point along the railroad to near Charlotles-
ville, with an interval of several miles between the two corps.
This wide separation of his opponent's forces gave Meade the hope that by
crossing the Rapidan at the lower fords, turning the Confederate right, and
advancing quickly towards Orange Court House by the plank and turnpike roads
284 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. that connect that place with Fredericksburg, he might be able to
interpose between the two hostile bodies under Ewell and Hill,
and destroy them in detail.
This plan, different from the kind of operations ordinarily attempted in Vir-
ginia, was well suited to the circumstances. It was based upon a precise mathe-
matical calculation of the elements of time and space, of the kind for which
Napoleon was so famous, and depended absolutely for its success on a vigorous
execution of all the foreordained movements in the foreordained time and way.
Thus planning, Meade attempted the bold coup d'essaye of cutting entirely loose
from his base of supplies, and providing his troops with ten days' rations, he left
his trains on the north side of the Rapidan, relying on the meditated success to
open up new lines of communication.
The movement was begun at dawn of the 26th of November, and the order of
march was as follows : The Fifth Corps, followed by the First Corps, was to cross
the Rapidan at Culpeper Mine Ford and proceed to Parker's Store, on the
plank-road to Orange Court House. The Second Corps was to cross at Germanna
Ford and proceed out on the turnpike (which runs parallel with the plank road)
to Robertson's Tavern. To this point also the Third Corps, crossing at Jacob's
Mill Ford, and followed by the Sbtth Corps, was to march by other routes, and then
make a junction with the Second Corps. With the left thus at Parker's Store and the
right at Robertson's Tavern, the army would be in close communication on parallel
roads, and by advancing westward towards Orange Court House would turn the
line of the Mine Run defences, which it was known did not extend as far south
as to cross the turnpike and plank-roads. As the distance of the several corps
from their encampments to the assigned points of concentration was under twenty
miles, General Meade reasonably assumed that marching early on the 26th,
each corps commander would be able to make the march inside of thirty-four
hours, or, at most, by noon of the 27th. It remains to relate how this well-
devised and meritorious plan was balked by circumstances that, though seem-
ingly trivial to those uninstructed in war, are yet the very elements that in a large
degree assure success or entail failure.
The first of these delays was occasioned by the tardiness of movement of the
Third Corps, under General French, which, having a less distance to march than
the other corps, yet did not reach its assigned point for the crossing of the Rapi-
dan until three hours after the other corps had arrived. This caused a delay to
the whole army, for, not knowing what he should encounter on the other side,
General Meade was unwilling to allow the other corps to cross until the Third
was up. A second obstacle was the result of an unpardonable blunder on the
part of the engineers in estimating the width of the Rapidan, so that the pontoon
bridges it was designed to throw across that stream were too short, and trestle-
work and temporary means had to be provided to increase their length. In
addition, another cause of delay resulted from the very precipitous banks of the
Rapidan, which rendered the passage of the artillery and trains tedious and diffi-
<:ult. The effect of these several circumstances was that the army, instead of
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 285
1863. making the passage of the river early in the day, was not across
until the following morning. Twenty-five hours had passed, and
only half the distance was made.
The Third Corps, under General French, fell into a series of luckless mishaps,
by which it happened that soon after crossing the Rapidan at Jacob's Mills he
took the wrong road to reach Robertson's Tavern, falling upon a route too much
to the right, which brought it against Johnson's division of Ewell's corps. With
this force it had a brisk brush, and by the time it could extricate itself, get on the
right road, and open communications with Robertson's Tavern, it was night.
Moved at 5 A.M., through the woods to a clearing,
Saturday, where the rebel infantry was found in force. The corps
Nov. 28. was then formed in line of battle, with skirmishers
thrown out in advance.
Mine Run was just at the foot of the other side of the hill from
where we were now stationed. Our skirmishers having driven the
enemy across the creek, they opened on us with artillery at long
range, to which ours replied, when we were hastily put in a position
of safety before any of our brigade was hurt. We were afterwards
thrown out as skirmishers. The concentration of our army at this
point continued all day, each corps takirig position as it arrived.
Lay all day in line of battle. The forenoon was
Sunday, spent in making preparations for an attack, which would
Nov. 29. take place as soon as the Second Corps, under Warren,
located some distance to our left, should open the ball.
It rained hard all the morning. Late in the afternoon we were un-
officially informed that during the approaching night an advance
was to be made across the flooded meadow in our front, on the
banks of Mine Run, after which we were to charge the heights be-
yond, now in possession of the enemy, and upon which was sta-
tioned a formidable array of artillery. To carry out this purpose the
corps was formed in four lines of battle, the Thirteenth being among
those in the front line. We knew very well what this meant if un-
dertaken. To climb those heights in face of guns that could sweep
every inch of ground with grape and canister was not the kind of
job we hankered after, particularly in the darkness. Some of the
boys left their vahiables, such as watches and money, with the sur-
286 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. geon, to be sent home in case of disaster. Names were
then written on slips of paper and pinned on the coat
or cap for identification of bodies. All these preparations gave
such an emphasis to the affair, that when night came, there was little
sleep. We had been out on the skirmish line, and knew too well
what the strength of the enemy was to doubt the result of such a
charge.
Orders were given that no word should be spoken above a whisper,
and we were particularly cautioned against the rattling of canteens.
In a few moments orders would be received to advance. With this
unpleasant anticipation, the hours rolled slowly along until daylight,
without an order to move. If there ever was a long night, this was
one. We learned afterwards that it was not the intention to make a
charge then, though one was intended to have been made in the
morning.
We quote once more from the " Campaigns of the Army of the
Potomac" by Swinton :
Early on Monday morning the army was under arms, impatiently awaiting the
signal-gun. At last the sound of Sedgwick's cannon came rolling along the line,
when the entire artillery of the right and centre opened upon the works of the
enemy. But not an echo from Warren on the left ! The explanation of this
silence soon came in intelligence brought by an aide-de-camp. A close observa-
tion of the enemy's position by dawn revealed a very different state of facts than
was presented the previous evening. The presence of Warren's troops had
attracted Lee's attention to his right, and during the night he had powerfully
strengthened that flank by artillery in position, and by infantry behind breast-
works and abattis. Looking at the position with the critical eye of an engineer,
but not without those lofty inspirations of courage that o'erleap the cold dictates
of mathematical calculation, Warren saw that the task was hopeless; and so
seeing, he resolved to sacrifice himself rather than his command. He assumed
the responsibility of suspending the attack.
His verdict was that of his soldiers, — a verdict pronounced not jn spoken
words, but in a circumstance more potent than words, and full of touching pathos.
The time has not been seen when the Army of the Potomac shrank from any
call of duty; but an unparalleled experience in war, joined to a great intelligence
in the rank and file, had taught these men what by heroic courage might be
done, and what was beyond the bounds of human possibility. Recognizing that
the task now before them was of the character of a forlorn hope, knowing well
that no man could here count on escaping death, the soldiers, without sign of
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 287
1863. shrinking from the sacrifice, were seen quietly pinning on the breast
of their blouses of blue slips of paper on which each had written
his name.
The following is taken from the account of the Mine Run cam-
paign published in the " History of the Civil War in America," by
the Count de Paris :
The demonstration made by Warren on Mine Run in the afternoon of the
29th, which cost him about twenty men, has of course attracted Hill's attention
toward his extreme right, which he hastily reenforced. The concentration of the
Federal forces on the south of the plank-road could the less escape him since
Warren, far from concealing them, has, on the contrary, applied himself, while
placing them in sight of the enemy and lighting large fires, to making them ap-
pear still more considerable than they were in reality. He has himself stated this
fact, wnthout explaining the reason of these tactics, which are incomprehensible
on the eve of an attack. If he hoped to intimidate the enemy he was greatly
mistaken. Hill, well warned, brings back all his forces on the south of the plank-
load, thus opposing about twenty thousand men to the twenty-six thousand of his
adversary, and hastily constructs a few intrenchments. A small stream and :>.
space of about six hundred yards separate the combatants. The night is long
and cold.
The dawn, impatiently waited for on both sides, at length makes its appear-
ance. Meade's manoeuvre has been baffled. The Southern army, closed in mass
behind Mine Run, presents everywhere a formidable front; the intrenchments
roughly sketched the day before by Hill have been completed during the night;
the artillery, concealed in the woods, is displayed on all the heights.
The Federals study with attention, then with uneasiness, the positions which
they are about to assault. Almost all have witnessed Fredericksburg and Gettys-
burg; they know by a double experience that a bloody defeat is reserved to one
of the two armies which takes the offensive. It is said that most of them on the
morning of the 30th took care to pin to their coats pieces of paper bearing their
names. They wished that their names might be placed over the fresh earth
which was to cover them in their everlasting sleep. No hope of glory was occu-
pying their minds at that supreme hour, but they were anxious to secure on that
distant soil the modest epitaph which allows the soldier's family to distinguish his
remains, instead of having to kneel at the grave of the unknown. It was in this
manner, it is related, that they silently showed the conviction that they were going
to be asked for a useless sacrifice. If it is only a legend — for legends are some-
times easily made — it is worth being quoted, for it perfectly describes the char-
acter of the Army of the Potomac.
A few minutes more and it will be 8 o'clock ; every one is waiting for the
signal; faces are grave, but resolute. Warren, however, has been stiU more struck
than his soldiers by the formidable aspect of the enemy's positions; those which
288 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. seemed scarcely defended on the evening of the preceding day are
covered with artillery. His first examination had perhaps been too
superficial. He ought to have foreseen that by parading his forces on the evening
of the 29th, and leaving to his adversaries fourteen hoars' respite, he was inviting
them to put themselves on their defence. But Warren will not lose time in useless
regrets; he has made a rapid toup d'ail and a correct judgment, and does not
shrink from responsibility. His decision is quickly made; the attack trusted to
his care cannot succeed, and he does not hesitate to postpone it. He must have
great moral courage to take this step, for he will be pardoned more easily, he
knows, an unfortunate act of daring than the most justifiable prudence. The fatal
hour has come; the regiments under arms receive no orders, — a painful waiting
to those who are ready to march to death, and which at first arouses in them a
feverish impatience. But they soon divine the wise hesitation of Warren; they
whisper to each other that the attack is abandoned, and every one immediately
forgets the future conflicts and the present sufferings to think only of the absent
family, and of home, sweet home.
At 4 A.M. we were turned out, and shortly after a
Monday, movement was made, but not as anticipated all night
Nov. 30. long. A line of battle was formed in the woods, and
an advance begtm. After- proceeding a short distance
an order was received to " Right flank, march I " and the regiment
soon emerged into an open field and massed with the Fifth Corps
for an attack. It was now daylight. The rebel batteries began
firing, the shot flying over our heads and making havoc with the
trees to our right, the Union batteries replying. A halt was made
behind a hill, where we were protected from artillery fire. Hope be-
gan to gain upon us that the foolhardy attempt of charging the enemy
was to be abandoned, which was indeed the fact. We subsequently
learned that in the hollow to the borth of the Orange pike were
massed twenty thousand men about daylight for some purpose, as if
anticipating a movement such as we were expecting to make. Time
dragged along, and no movement was made. We were all tired of
the inaction and the heavy strain on the mind from hours of expec-
tation, and so we had a game of ball to pass away the time. Occa-
sionally the ball would be batted over the crest of the hill in front,
in range of the rebel skirmishers, necessitating some one going
after it. It was a risky piece of business and required quick work,
but it was got every time.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 289
1863. During the day a sheep was seen running along out-
side of the skirmish line, when it was fired upon and
wounded. An adventurous member of Company E ran out for it,
but a Johnnie on the rebel skirmish line covered him with his gun,
shouting, " Divide, Yank ! " which was agreed to. The sheep was
then split in halves, each taking his portion, returning to their places
amid shouts of laughter from both lines.
When night came we built large fires to ward off the bitter cold,
and slept.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
November 30, 1863, 8.40 P.M.
General : The major-general commanding desires to have your opinion upon
the practicability of carrying the enemy's intrenchments, so far as they are known
to you within the limits of the front of your command. Please reply immediately.
I am, General, very respeclfuUy, your obedient servant,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
(To commanders of First, Third, Fifth, and Sixth Army Corps.)
Headquarters First Army Corps,
November 30, 1S63, 9.05 P.M.
Brig.-Gen. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-Gemrat :
In reply to your 8.45 this P.M. I have the honor to report that since dark I
have not been able to obtain the information that I desire concerning the topog-
raphy of the other side of the stream. I will be enabled to answer your note
more satisfactorily on receiving from division commanders the information already
sent for.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN NEWTON,
Major- General.
Headquarters First Army Corps,
November 30, 1863, n P.M.
Brig.-Gen. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General :
General : The papers enclosed are the answers of my division commanders
[only Cutler's can be found] to an inquiry as to the nature of the ground in their
respective fronts. I regard any attempt to storm as hopeless, unless the troops
can be massed near the point of attack without the knowledge of the enemy, and
unless strongly supported on both right and left. The works of the enemy in my
immediate front appear to be heavy, and their attention seems to have been
drawn to the possibility of an attack here.
Very respectfully, etc.,
JOHN NEWTON,
Major- General.
290 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. [Enclosure.]
LiEUT.-CoL. C. Kingsbury, ]k., Assistant Adjutant-General, First Army Corps:
Colonel ; I think the works can be carried at or near the first angle of the
pike to the left, provided that the enemy is first dislodged from the pines in front
of the works by an attack from the left. This is the only practicable way I see,
and that at a great sacrifice. If I were to make the assault, I would hke to see
the officer that is to lead on my left, and have daylight to execute it in.
Very respectfully,
L. CUTLER,
Brigadier- General Commanding Division.
Headquarters Third Army Corps,
November 30, 1863, lo.li P.M.
Major-General Humphreys, Chief of Staff:
As to carrying the line in my front, the two divisions being now at my disposal,
I say there is no obstacle to success except those incidental to military enterprises.
Very respectfully,
WM. H. FRENCH,
Major- General.
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
November 30, 1863, 9 P.M.
Brig.-Gen. S. Williams:
General : In answer to your question of this evening, I do not think it prac-
ticable to successfully carry the intrenchments of the enemy within the front of
my command. I mean the front on either side of the old turnpike road of which
I spoke to you yesterday.
This was followed by a second despatch at 1 1 P.M. :
General : In answer to your question, I desire to say, that, so far as could be
seen, I do not consider it impracticable to carry the front threatened by us, to-day,
although I regard the chances of success as very much lessened, both because the
enemy has prepared to-day to meet the threat there offered, and because I am
almost assured that he knows the nature of the attack it was our design to offer,
and has prepared to resist it,
GEO. SYKES,
Major- General.
The following paragraphs are taken from General Meade's report
of the Mine Run campaign :
On the 30th the batteries opened at 8 A.M. The skirmishers of the First and
Third Corps advanced across Mine Run and drove the enemy's skirmishers, and
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 291
1863. every preparation was made by Sedgwick for his attack (he having
moved his columns during the night and massed them out of view
of the enemy), when about ten minutes of 9 I received a despatch from General
Warren to the effect that " the position and strength of the enemy seem so
formidable in ray present front that I advise against making the attack here —
the full light of the sun shows me that I cannot succeed." The staff-officer who
brought this despatch further reported that General Warren had suspended his
attack, and would not make it without further orders.
As Sedgwick's attack was subsidiary to Warren's, and as, owing to Warren's
confidence of the night before, I had given him so large a part of the army that I
had not the means of supporting Sedgwick in case of repulse, or reenforcing him
in the event of success, I was obliged to suspend the attack of Sedgwick on the
enemy's left, which I did just in time; and immmediately proceeded to General
Warren's column, some four miles distant, in the hope of arranging some plan by
which the two attacks might yet take place in the afternoon. I reached General
Warren between 10 and 1 1 A.M. and found his views were unchangeable, and
that it was his decided opinion it was hopeless to make any attack.
I am free to admit that the movement across the Rapidan was a failure, but I
respectfully submit that the causes of this failure, a careful perusal of the fore-
going report will show, were beyond my control. I maintain my plan was a
feasible one. Had the columns made the progress I anticipated and effected a
junction on the night of the 26th, at or near Robertson's Tavern, the advance the
next day would either have passed the formidable position of Mine Run without
opposition ; or, had Ewell attempted to check the movement, he would have been
overwhelmed before reenforced by Hill.
Prisoners reported that Hill did not come up till the afternoon of the 27th, so
that if the movements of the Third Corps had been prompt and vigorous on the
27th, assisted by the Sixth and Second, there was every reason to believe Ewell
could have been overcome before the arrival of Hill. And after the enemy,
through these culpable delays, had been permitted to concentrate on Mine Run,
I have reason to believe but for the unfortunate error of judgment of Major-Gen-
eral Warren, my original plan of attack on these columns would have been suc-
cessful, or at least, under the view I took of it, would certainly have been tried.
It may be said I should not depend on the judgment of others, but it is impos-
sible a commanding general can reconnoitre in person a line of over seven miles
in extent, and act on his own judgment as to the expediency of attacking or not.
Again, it may be said that the effort should have been made to test the value of
my judgment, or in other words, that I should encounter what I believed to be
certain defeat, so as to prove conclusively that victory was impossible.
Considering how sacred is the trust of the lives of the brave men under my
command, but willing as I am to shed their blood and my ov/n when duty re-
quires, and my judgment dictates that the sacrifice will not be in vain, I cannot be
a party to a wanton slaughter of my troops for any mere personal end.
292 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. The following is the report of our division commander,
Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson :
Headquarters Second Division First Army Corps,
December 3, 1863.
Colonel : On the 22A of November this division was posted at Bealeton,
Liberty, and Licking Run, and on the 23d it was concentrated near Rappahan-
nock Station. At daylight on the 26th it started on the march, crossed the Rap-
idan at Culpeper Ford after dark, and biouvacked until 3 o'clock next morning,
when the march was resumed. About midnight I took up a position about a mile
and a half to the left of Robertson's Tavern, and picketed one of the roads lead-
ing to the front.
At daylight I moved the division about one mile to the right, and formed on the
left of the First Division in two lines with a reserve of four regiments and a
double line of skirmishers. In this order the division advanced to the line after-
ward occupied by the army in front of the enemy's works on Mine Run. At this
time there were no troops on my left, but the Third Corps, coming into position
toward night, relieved my pickets on that flank. The enemy's works in my front
appeared to be strong, and between us was a mile open space with ravines,
through which ran two streams — Mine Run and one of its branches. On the 30th
I was directed by the major-general commanding the First Corps to advance my
pickets across the stream in front, and build two bridges suitable for the passage
of artillery and troops in column. The enemy's pickets occupied the crest of the
hill immediately in front, and it became necessary to dislodge them. This was
handsomely done by the Ninety-fourth Regiment of New York Volunteers, under
Major Moffett, which advanced to the stream, exposed to severe musketry fire,
crossed it, and charging up the hill, drove a\yay the rebel pickets, and took pos-
session of the crest. Working parties were immediately set at work, who by
night had completed two bridges, and were proceeding to build others, when I
received orders to suspend the work, and, during the night, to withdraw my pickets
to the position they occupied in the morning. The only casualties in the division
are a few men wounded.
At 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the first of December, the division was
relieved by a brigade of the Third Division, Fifth Corps, and marched to Ger-
manna Ford, when I took position and covered the crossing of the Fifth and
Sixth Corps, and the picket details of the Third, Fifth, and Sixth Corps. The
division was then withdrawn, with the exception of one hundred men, who re-
mained until the bridges were taken up, and then came over in boats. About
noon on the 2d of December I left the river, and bivouacked near Stevensburg.
The division left Stevensburg this morning, and is now encamped, one brigade
at Paoli Mills and one at Kelly's Ford.
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
JNO. C. ROBINSON,
Brigadier- General Commanding Division.
THIRTEENTB MASS. VOLS. 293
1863. The following instructions for the retirement of our
Tuesday, corps are taken from the circular issued by General
Meade, under date of Dec. i, 1863 :
I. The First Corps, Major-General Newton commanding, will withdraw from
its position on Mine Run (part of the Fifth Corps relieving it), concealing the
movement from the enemy, and march at 4 P. M. to Germanna Ford, where it
will take position and hold the crossing of the river until the Fifth and Sixth
Corps cross, when it will follow those two corps as soon as the road on the oppo-
site side is clear. It will then form the rear guard, and use every precaution to
insure the safety of the rear. It will take post at the termination of the plank-
road, covering the trains on the Stevensburg road, and watching the Mitchell's
Ford road.
Shortly before daylight we moved back to the position occupied
by us on the night of November 27.
At dusk our division began its march back to the Rapidan, arriv-
ing at the Germanna Ford about daylight, when we took position as
directed in the order of General Meade.
The whole army crossed the river. We marched to
Wednesday, Stevensburg, ten miles, arriving about 4 P.M., and halted
Dec. 2. for the night.
The rest of the army, like ourselves, was very much
dissatisfied with the result of the campaign. Grumbling was heard
on all sides. As usual we knew little about the position of troops,
but that didn't interfere with our having some lively discussion as to
how the battle ought to have been fought. Arguments were illus-
trated by diagrams drawn in the ashes of smouldering fires. While
this was going on, our attention was attracted to a group of substi-
tutes who were demonstrating how easy a pocket could be picked.
These fellows made no bones of their occupation, and they were
always willing to teach us the mysteries of their profession, that we
might have an agreeable and genteel occupation when we reached
home.
Marched to a point near Kelly's Ford on the Rappa-
Thursday, hannock River, where we took possession of some rebel
Dec. 3. huts, built for winter quarters, and where we remained
until th? 24th, attending to the usual duties of camp life,
watching with interest the steady diminution of our comrades, the
294 THREE YEARS IIST THE ARMY.
1863. substitutes and bounty-jumpers, who returned to their
native heaths to reenlist in accordance with the earnestly
expressed wish of the government, that all veterans should do so.
Complaint was made by General Newton, our corps commander,
that our regiment did not have recitations from the Army Regula-
tions. There were four hundred and eighty-three pages, containing,
in all, sixteen hundred and seventy-six regulations. We were gratefiil
to our officers for this deviation from the strict line of their duty.
There were inflictions enough without this one. The busybody that
informed General Newton of this neglect deserved to be choked, we
thought.
Section 500 of the Army Regulations says : " The sentinel at the
colonel's tent has orders to warn him, day or night, of any unusual
movement in or about camp." The most unusual thing that ever
happened in camp was the prompt relief of the camp guard on duty
at 3 A.M. According to this regulation, therefore, it was the duty
of the sentinel after such an occurrence to wake the colonel and let
him know the fact, though we believe it was never done, because life
was sweet, even to a private soldier. Then again, the ninth article of
war forbade a soldier using any violence to his superior officer.
Headquarters First Bricade,
[Circular.] Second Division First Army Corps,
Dec. 14, 1863.
I. As one of the aids to a proper attention to guard duty is to have comfort-
able guard quarters, the commanding officers of the different regiments of this
brigade will, without unnecessary delay, have such quarters prepared.
II. As the moral and conscientious soldiers are among the most faithful and
devoted to the service, it is desirable that the best means be used for cultivating
and promoting the highest moral influence amongst the troops. It is, therefore,
recommended to all officers, particularly to commanding officers of regiments, to
extend all facilities in their power to the chapliuns in the performance of their
high and sacred duties. Every regiment should have a suitable building or tent
in which to hold their religious meetings. Every regiment not having a chaplain
should adopt the speediest means for obtaining one.
III. The colonel commanding does not feel himself authorized to issue any
orders on the duties of chaplains, or prescribing any form for religious services,
although the religious orders of the President, repeated by several commanders of
this army, might warrant it, yet he would most earnestly recommend that the
commanders of regiments require their chaplains, or in their absence, some suit-
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 295
1863. able person, to have a short and appropriate religious service on
the occasion 'of the evening dress parade, believing, as he does, that
it would be a dutiful recognition of that Almighty Power that has preserved us,
blessed our nation and flag, blessed our arms, and that is rapidly leading us into
a long-looked for haven of peace and prosperity.
By command of
COL. T. F. McCOY,
Comjiianding Brigade.
The reading of this order reminded us of the utter darkness into
which we had wandered by the loss of our spiritual guide, the chap-
lain. The Bibles which we had discarded in the streets of Phila-
delphia, under the impression that the presence of a chaplain would
supply their place, might now be useful in regulating our conduct
so as to fulfil the enunciation of Colonel McCoy, that " moral and
conscientious soldiers are among the most faithful and devoted to
the service." We were certainly among the breakers, — house-
breakers, as our last August recruits appeared to be, — and needed,
if ever, the services of a chaplain, or a jailer, though the latter was
the officer we felt would be most useful. The chaplain left us about
Fredericksburg time to take charge of a hospital in Washington,
and we are free to say that we missed the cheering influence of his
amiable presence. Surrounded as we now were by a brawling set
of recruits, it looked like a travesty to remind us of cultivating
morals in soil so destitute of good. There were some things we
could do to be saved without the aid of a chaplain : we could pray,
sing a psalm, take up a collection, or take a bath. Most of us chose
the latter, for its proximity to godliness, and felt purer and happier
for doing so.
Headquarters First Army Corps,
[Circular.] Dec. 22, 1863.
For the information of those concerned, the following facts are furnished in
regard to bounties paid by the different .States, collected from the Adjutant-Gen-
eral's office :
Massachusetts pays ^325 cash, or $c,o and S20 per month.
New York pays 37S-
New York City pays 5300, provided the men were enlisted in the city, provided
the men were originally enrolled there, no matter whether the men reenlisted in
the city or army.
Wisconsin pays $5 a month to families of volunteers.
296 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. Michigan, J50 bounty; also township and county bounties are
paid in some localities, varying in amounts.
By command of
MAJOR-GENERAL NEWTON.
A noticeable change had taken place in the business of enlistment
since we hung round No. 344 (old number) Washington street, pa-
tiently waiting to learn if we had been voted in and accepted.
Marched about 8 o'clock to Brandy Station and on to
Thursday, Culpeper Court House and along the railroad to within
Dec. 24. a mile of Mitchell's Station. Snow on the ground and
cold. No rests were given us. The distance marched
was seventeen miles.
Christmas day. Had to break ice in the swamp near
Friday, by for a supply of water, some of which was about the
Dec. 25. color of whiskey. The pickets of the enemy could be
seen on the opposite side of Cedar Run. Merritt's divi-
sion of cavalry were in camp near us.
About 3 P.M. we moved our camp down the hill to
Saturday, Mitchell's Station in a field to the west of the station.
Dec. 26. Our camp of August 17 and 18, 1862, was less than a
mile away, towards Cedar Mountain.
General Orders, 1
No. 56. I Headquarters First Brigade, Second Division,
First Army Corps, Dec. 28, 1863.
This brigade now occupies one of the extreme outposts of this army. It is a
position of honor as well as danger, and as such requires much more than the
ordinary degree of vigilance and faithfulness on the part of officers and men.
The colonel commanding would, therefore, call upon all to manifest their appre-
ciation of the important service devolving upon them by a. prompt and cheerful
response to every duty.
In view of an additional precaution against surprise, when firing is heard on
the picket line, the commanding officers of regiments will at once have their com-
mands under arms, without waiting for any orders or signals from these head-
quarters.
The safety of the camp being more particularly in the keeping of the pickets
and guards, the necessity of intelligence, vigilance, and promptitude with them
are of the most essential importance.
The colonel commanding the brigade deeply regrets the necessity for the late
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 297
1863. movement, involving so much inconvenience and suffering, and most
heartily s"mpathizes with the troops in their extraordinary fatigues
and exposures. Knowing, however, that the noble and righteous cause in which
we are engaged is worthy of and demands the highest services and the greatest
sacrifices, he feels assured that the brave and patriotic officers and soldiers of this
brigade will, with renewed determination, if necessary, sustain their own high
name, won upon so many battlefields, and the honor of the old flag, by a prompt
and willing compliance with every duty, however arduous, the exigency may require.
By command of
COL. T. F. McCOY,
Commanding Brigade.
We had an opinion about this Colonel McCoy. The " old flag "
which has come thundering along down the oratorical highway of
the last thirty years probably got its start from this order.
Tuesday ^^ were formed in line of battle to meet an advance
Dec. 29. of the enemy, but the alarm proved to be a false one.
General Orders, ) Headquarters First Brigade,
No. 58. ' Second Division First Army Corps,
Dec. 30, 1863.
For the health and comfort of the soldiers of the First Brigade, it is of great im-
portance that especial attention be bestowed in the construction of huts and the
laying out of grounds for convenience and beautifying. For the purpose of en-
suring uniformity in the accomplishment of these objects, I hereby, with the
advice of the medical officers of the First Army Corps, direct that the walls of the
huts shall not be less than five feet high, the length not less than ten feet, and the
width between the walls not less than six feet and one half, the roofs being cov-
ered with shelters in the usual manner. The doors of the huts shall all face the
street, and the chimneys should not be erected in the front.
A choice may be ejJercised by the regimental commanders whether the huts be
end to the street or side to it, though there should be uniformity in adopting one
mode or the other.
The streets should not be less than twenty-five feet in width, and the space
between huts in the rear should not be less than eight feet. The streets will be
graded in the usual manner. The draining will be thorough.
By command of
COL. T. F. McCOY,
Commanding Brigade.
298 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1863. Changed camp to high ground, half a mile to the
Thursday, westward, and proceeded at once to build huts for win-
^'^' ^'' ter quarters. Six months and sixteen days more before
"Johnnie comes marching home."
During the month of January, 1864, the Confederate Congress
passed resolutions thanking General Lee and the officers and soldiers
under his command for the great and signal victories they had
won, and the service they had rendered in defence of the liberty
and independence of their country. Accompanying the resolutions
was the following general order :
General Orders, 1
No. 5. S Adjt. and Insp. General's Office,
Richmond, Jan. 13, 1864.
I. The President having approved the following joint resolutions of Congress,
directs its announcement in General Orders, expressive of his gratification at the
tribute awarded the patriotic officers and soldiers to whom it is addressed. For
the military laggard, or him who, in the pursuits of selfish and inglorious ease,
forgets his country's need, no note of approbation is sounded. His infamy is his
only security from oblivion. But the heroic devotion of those who, in defence of
liberty and honor, have perilled their all, while it confers, in an approving con-
science, the best and highest award, will also be cherished in perpetual remem-
brance by a grateful nation. Let this assurance stimulate the armies of the
Confederacy everywhere to greater exertion and more resolute endurance, till,
under the guidance of Heaven, the blessings of peace and freedom shall finally
crown their efforts. Let all press forward in the road to independence, and for
the security of the rights sealed to us in the blood of the first Revolution. Honor
and glory await our success. Slavery and shame will attend our defeat !
As a specimen of turgid eloquence this is too fine to remain
buried in the War Records.
THIRTKENTU MAHIS. VOLS. 299
CHAPTER XV.
1864. We were given today a half-ration of whiskey. With
January i. jj^g thermometer at ten below zero and fifty per cent,
reduction in the quantity of whiskey, there was indeed
cause for anxiety. The substitutes appealed to their goddess —
"Helen Blazes" — for interference, and some of us felt like joining
in the chorus. The significance of reducing the allowance of whiskey
on the first day of the year was very striking, and suggested that
perhaps the annual fever of reform which occurs on New Year's
day had attacked the government, though we hoped it would not be
more lasting than it usually was with mankind. The life of a com-
mon soldier is such an irksome grind, that it is not to be wondered
that he welcomes anything that will put a polish on the hard surface
of his daily duties. There was nothing that so effectually removed
the wrinkles from " grim-visaged war " as a noggin of old rye,
although we allow that its absence was no excuse for profanity. Of all
men who served in the army, the private soldier could afford the least
to indulge in the luxury of profanity, as will be seen by the following
extract from the " Articles of War : "
Article 3. Any non-commissioned officer or soldier who shall use any pro-
fane oath or execration, shall incur the penalties expressed in the foregoing article
(one-sixth of a dollar) ; and a commissioned officer shall forfeit and pay for each
and every offence, one dollar, to be applied as in the preceding article.
That is, applied "to the use of the sick soldiers of the company or troop to
which the oflfender belongs."
According to the " War Records " the man who did the most
swearing was the distinguished commander of the Army of the
Potomac, but perhaps he thought he could afford it ; we couldn't,
even at the low price fixed for the rank and file. If General Meade
chipped in a dollar for every profane word he uttered, the amount of
300 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. money so collected would have supported all the hospi-
tals in the army, unless he has been grievously maligned.
It must have bothered him to keep the count unless he left that to
his private secretary. In the heat of battle, or when stupid soldiers
tried their patience, some other officers, following his extravagant
example, believed the expletives of our language acquired additional
force if garnished with profanity, and we fear they often exceeded
the limit allowed even by the army in Flanders. But, as we have
already said, war is not a Sunday-school picnic.
Now we were settled in winter quarters, we had plenty of time to
reflect on the perils through which we had passed, and the fact that
thirty months of our three-years' service had been wound off, hoping
our luck would hold out until July 16, when we could, with honor,
turn our backs to the foe. As we sat on picket, watching the stars,
our minds would go back to January i, 1862, when we were quar-
tered in the hospitable town of Williamsport, where we celebrated
the day with " apple-jack," a decoction which many of us became
acquainted with for the first time, and which discretion suggested
ought to be the last. We recollected how much fun we had seeing the
old year out — way out. There were singing and dancing, darkies'
praise-meetings, and entertainment at houses where the hospitality
was supplemented with the stirring words of " Maryland, my Mary-
land." In those happy days we were a thousand strong, but now a
small band welded into veterans by the perils and hardships we
had encountered.
General Orders,!
No. 2. / Headquarters First Brigade, Second Division,
First Army Corps, January 2, 1864.
As an additional measure of precaution for defence, and to guard against sur-
prise, in the position now occupied by the brigade, there will be one regiment
designated daily as an inlying picket, to go on duty at the hour of guard-
mounting, at which time, by the same calls, it will assemble on its regimental
parade ground, under its own officei-s, have roll-calls, inspection, and stack arms,
its commanding officer to report in person at these headquarters immediately
thereafter. This picket will always be in readiness to fall in at a moment's notice,
to march to any point that may be threatened, and will be under arms at daylight.
The officers and men will, therefore, remain in camp and quarters, with their
accoutrements on, and if deemed necessary by the brigade commander, patrols
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 301
1864. under a commissioned officer will be sent out at proper intervals,
part of whose duty it will be to arrest all soldiers found beyond a
proper distance from the camp, besides any suspicious characters that may be
found in the vicinity.
That this duty may be as light as possible upon the different regiments, the
two larger regiments (the Sixteenth Maine and Thirty-ninth Massachusetts) will
be divided, five companies at a time being designated for this duty. It will be
necessary that the regiments upon this duty be subject to the usual details. They
will be relieved from drill.
By command of
COL. T. F. McCOY,
Commanding Brigade,
Our brigade, consisting of the Thirteenth Massachusetts, the One
Hundred and Fourth New York, the Sixteenth Maine, the One
Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania, and the Thirty-ninth Massa-
chusetts, was now encamped for the winter at Mitchell's Station, on
the Orange & Alexandria Railroad ; the remainder of the division
being stationed near Culpeper and Pony Mountain. We remained
in this camp doing outpost duty for the Army of the Potomac until
April 26.
As soon as our position was fixed we proceeded to make ourselves
comfortable by building log huts, using our " shelters " as a roof, and
a very comfortable camp we made of it. After the huts were com-
pleted we proceeded to build corduroy streets in and about the
camp, that we might get about when the ground was softened by
thaws, without wallowing in the mud. This work was accomplished
by piece-meal, during the hours when we were reUeved from picket
duty.
There was a deal of anxiety and hard work about this picket duty,
and on several occasions regiments were sent down from corps head-
quarters to relieve us of some of the strain. Our picket lines were
so close to the enemy that the sound of rebel drums could be
plainly heard. The most continual watchfulness was required to
prevent surprises. Each day one regiment of the brigade was kept
" under arms " in readiness to repel a sudden attack. This service was
performed in turn, as was also that of picket duty. The line was
daily invaded by deserters from the enemy, often coming in groups of
a dozen, with tales of hardships and destitution which their array was
302 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. contending with ; informing us, also, that more were pre-
paring to come, and that it took a considerable force to
prevent these desertions. From our previous experience we were
led to take about as much stock in these yams as we did in the stories
of contrabands.
As drilling was dispensed with we had some leisure moments
which were spent in listening to the wonderful exploits of the out-
laws sent out by the old Bay State in August last. They never tired
of relating the mysterious uses to which a "jimmy " could be put by
a man of nerve, and how easy it was to crack a bank or filch a purse.
They robbed each other as freely as they did others. We noticed on
their arrival that nearly every man had his pocket cut. Their
mouths were full of oaths and mottoes, such as " God helps those
who help themselves," and " All men are bom free and equal," and
that " No man is entitled to more than another unless he has the
sand to get it." Of this band of one hundred and eighty-six only
about forty did any duty at all, and what they did was not very
reliable. The others deserted, went into hospitals, or shirked.
Every time any of them deserted we felt glad they were gone.
From the moment of their arrival until they departed we had no
peace or continuous sleep, so turbulent and noisy were they. Two
or three times a week the woods near the camp were witness to
fights, frequently of terrible brutality. The disputes which arose
among them as they gambled their money, made one's life a misery.
We often talked over, among ourselves, this business of filling up a
decent regiment with the outscourings of humanity ; but the more we
thought of it the more discontented we became. We longed for a
quiet night, and when day came we longed to be away from these
rufHans. What with hollering, and swearing, and threats to knife each
other, these fellows made our lives anything but enjoyable.
During this time we were asked to reenlist. The commanding
officer of each regiment was instructed to make an effort to this end.
We were drawn up in line, and had explained to us that the country
needed men ; that it was a critical period ; that old soldiers were
worth so much more than new ones, etc.; to all of which we
listened with respectful attention. It was very sweet to hear all this,
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 303
1864. but the Thirteenth was not easily moved by this kind of
talk. The boys knew too well what sacrifices they had
made, and longed to get home again, and, if possible, resume the
places they had left. Four times we were addressed as to our duty
about reenlisting. On two or three of these occasions there was an
unusual amount of grog floating about. Who the mysterious bene-
factor was, we are unable to recall, but it was evident to us that some
one was Interested in putting a halo of attractiveness on the service
that didn't seem to fit. On one of these occasions, eleven men
yielded to the influence of oratory or rum, though some of them
afterwards said it was the rum, and were given thirty days' furlough.
Seven of this number succeeded in obtaining commissions in other
regiments, so that only four returned.
About this time one of the boys in another regiment, whose wife
had died, requested leave of absence to attend her funeral, and the
application was returned from headquarters with the indorsement,
"This man can have thirty-five days' furlough by reenlisting.
« (Signed) Gen. S. Williams, A.A.G."
When this came to our ears a good deal of feeling was expressed
in terms not very comphmentary to the government.
General Orders, )
No. 3. 3 Headquarters First Brigade,
Second Division, January 9, 1864.
It is believed that the troops would be more efficient in battle if opportunities
were afforded them an occasional target practice.
From II o'clock to 12 is now allowed, during which the relieved guards and
pickets may fire off their muskets.
In order that we may profit by this privilege, it is directed, under the general
supervision of the commanders of regiments respectively, that the pieces of their
men be discharged at a target daily, Sundays excepted, between the hours desig-
nated.
Great care should be taken to select a perfectly safe locality for this practice, to
prevent accident, and in every case it must be under the direction of a com-
missioned officer.
By command of
COL. T. F. McCOY.
Occasionally the monotony of camp-life was relieved by our
304 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. brigade commander, who exercised a kind of parental
care over us, as will be seen by the following order :
General Orders, 1
No. 5. / Headquarters First Brigade, Second Division,
First Army Corps, January 17, 1864.
Regimental commanders will cause inspection to be made of the haversacks of
picket details before they leave camp, and will be held responsible that their details
are fully supplied with the necessary rations.
By command of
COL. T. F. McCOY,
Commanding Brigade.
BYRON PORTER,
Captain and A. A. A. G,
If we had known of the existence of this order at the time, we
should have taken mighty good care that our haversacks were empty
when the inspection took place.
We find among the orders issued at that time the following :
[Circular.]
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
Office of the Provost Marshal-General,
January 20, 1864.
Assistant Adjutant-General of Corps, and other independent commands, are
respectfully requested to notify officers and men connected with their commands
that they can be supplied at Brandy Station, daily, with fresh oysters, at the fol-
lowing prices :
Per gallon in \ bbls. or tubs, $1-55
" 4 " in cans, .90
" quart, in cans, ,45
Shell oysters in bbls., per bushel, 1.70
Mr. John Tyson, of Baltimore, Md. (who has the contract^, announces, that
having supplied the hospitals, he will hereafter be able to meet all demands for
oysters made upon him by officers and men,
M. R. PATRICK,
Provost Marshal- General.
It took the government two and a half years to learn that oysters,
and not pork, went with crackers ; so we were well pleased to see this
kinship reestablished.
The following interesting order is from the pen of General Lee :
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 305
General Orders, 1
No. 7. i Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
January 22, 1864.
The commanding general considers it due to the army to stale that the tem-
porary reduction of rations has been caused by circumstances beyond the control
of those charged with its support. Its welfare and comfort are the objects of his
constant and earnest solicitude, and no effort has been spared to provide for its
wants. It is hoped that the exertions now being made will render the necessity
of short duration; but the history of the army has shown that the country can
require no sacrifice too great for its patriotic devotion.
Soldiers ! You tread with no unequal step the road by which your fathers
marched through suffering, privations, and blood to independence. Continue to
emulate in the future, as you have in the past, their valor in arms, their patient
endurance of hardships, their high resolve to be free, which no trial could shake,
no bribe reduce, no danger appal, and be assured that the just God who crowned
their efforts with success will, in His own good time, send down His blessing
upon yours.
R. E. LEE,
General
In a letter to General Lee from the Quartermaster-General of the
Confederacy, under date of February 5, 1864, occurs the following
paragraph, which shows the straits to which the Confederate States
had been driven :
You desire to be informed in regard to the prospects for the future. As to the
article of blankets, we are entirely dependent upon the foreign markets for our
supply. There is not a solitary establishment within the limits of the Confederacy
where they are made, nor is there one, since the destruction of Crenshaw's at this
place (Richmond) by fire, that possesses the appliances for making them. In
view of this, would it not be well to require the men to turn them in for reissue
just as soon as approaching summer will justify, as at that season these articles
are wasted? The Department is also, owing to the great scarcity of wool, some-
what dependent upon the receipts from abroad for the heavy woollen cloths essential
for winter wear. In the important item of shoes, I believe we are now laboring
under our greatest difficulties, and that the coming spring will bring great relief.
I do not allude so much to the relief incident to the season itself as that which
will result from our increased resources. Besides the shoe establishment here,
there are two other larger ones in Georgia, at Columbus and Atlanta, and minor
affairs at other points. Arrangements have been recently entered into for the
introduction of machinery, which, with limited details, will enable two of these
workshops to turn out one thousand pairs of shoes each daily. Major Dillard has
also in hand a very large number of hides that have been for some time in the
vats, and which he reports will be available in the spring. A small portion of
that material would relieve, if available now, the wants of the army.
306 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. We had a case of small-pox break out in camp during
February, jj^jg month, but the prompt measures taken by the
doctor prevented its spreading.
On the 6th we received orders to be in readiness to march at
daylight, but they were subsequently countermanded. Rumors were
always circulating about camp as to what we were going to do, but
the old reliable, " All quiet on the Potomac," was kept standing in
the newspapers, though " On to Richmond" occasionally made its
appearance to relieve the monotony.
On the 26th a substitute, in order to make things lively, set fire to
the building occupied by the picket reserve, endangering the lives of
the men who were lying in it asleep. The time was fast approaching
when the boys, becoming exasperated, were thinking of taking the
law into their own hands. This fire had one good effect, as it served
as a beacon to several officers and soldiers who had escaped from
Richmond, and were seeking our lines. They were accompanied by
four negroes.
On the 29th a lieutenant of the Eightieth Illinois, being among the
last who came through the tunnel under " Libby prison," approached
our lines and was challenged, when he answered, " Friends without
the countersign." Upon being admitted, he was so overjoyed he
knew not what to do or say. Shortly after leaving Richmond, he was
laid up by a bad knee, stopping at the cabin of a negro who con-
cealed him and cared for him until he was able to travel, and then
accompanied him to our lines. They travelled only nights, and were
helped along by negroes. The last two days he was near the rebel
lines, but kept out of sight. On this night, before the moon was up,
they crossed the Rapidan between the rebel pickets, and entered our
lines. He was sent by a special engine to army headquarters.
The following order is inserted to offset any impression that may
arise in the minds of our readers that all the deprivations or hard-
ships fell upon the private soldier :
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 307
General Orders, ■(
No. 6. / Headquarters Second Division,
First Army Corps, Feb. 5, 1864.
Gambling within the limits of this division is prohibited. The attention ot
brigade and regimental commanders is called to the suppression of this evil.
By command of
BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBINSON,
Commanding Division.
S. M. MORGAN,
Lieutenant and A. A. A, G.
It will be seen by this communication that even the brigade and
regimental commanders had their sorrows. There were a good
many orders issued in the army that were prompted more by a
splenetic condition of the mind than the good of the service. Con-
sidering our kind regard for General Robinson, it may seem a sacrilege
to say so, yet, when this order was read to the rank, and file, we
immediately concluded that the " old man " had been " roasted " the
night before by some of his " brigade and regimental commanders."
The language of this order was too plain to be misunderstood,
except by a person whose mind was as opaque as a billiard-ball.
According to our thinking, it had no reference to the rank and file,
but solely to the officers mentioned in the order; therefore they
received our charitable commisseration.
An odd incident occurred on the 7th, while our regi-
Wednesday, ment was on picket, that afforded us considerable
March 10. amusement. A Dutchman belonging to a New Jersey
brigade, becoming dissatisfied with fighting for Uncle
Sam, concluded to transfer his valuable services to the enemy, and
accordingly started for the rebel lines. On his way, he passed
through the picket lines of the corps and the cavalry line without
being stopped. Imagining that he had passed the outpost lines of
the Union army, and that our line was the rebel picket line, he
boldly advanced and announced to us that he " Belonged mit the
Shersey brigade, but was run away from camp and desert." Though
we informed him of his error, he was not convinced until he was
shown the brigade flag, and then he was too well convinced for his
own comfort. He was a man of intelligence, as was shown by the
308 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. remark he made in speaking of himself, " I'm a tam
fool." " Be sure you are right, then go ahead," was the
sound advice of David Crocket.
Early this morning an alarm was sounded, and after standing in
line nearly two hours we were dismissed. It was subsequently
learned that the rebel cavalry made an unsuccessfiil attempt to
capture the signal station on Bald Pate Mountain.
It began to rain early in the morning and continued all day,
settHng the question of moving for several days, as the roads became
almost impassable on account of the mud.
War Department, March 10, 1864, 140 P.M.
Lieut.-Gen. U. S. Grant, Commander-in-Chief, Headquarters Army of the
Potomac :
Pursuant to the authority of the Act of Congress, approved February 29, 1864,
the President, by executive order of this date, has assigned to you the command
of the Armies of the United States.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
[Circular.] March 10, 1864.
The Major-General commanding requests me to inform you that Lieutenant-
General Grant has arrived at his headquarters, and will remain this afternoon and
to-night. He will be happy to see you here at any time during his brief stay.
A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Major-General, Chief of Staff.
(To Corps Commanders.)
We should like to have been a corps commander long enough to
have tested the quality of his " cold tea."
There was a variety of opinions expressed in camp about the
appointment of General Grant to the command of the army. Some
who had followed his career closely were enthusiastically in his favor,
while others had grave doubts. The Army of the Potomac had been
pretty severely criticised by some of the Western generals, conveying
the impression that we couldn't fight. The ill feeling engendered by
such silly talk soon wore away, however.
On the 12 th of March we had a game of base- ball with some
members of the One Hundred and Fourth New York Regiment. As
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 309
1864. opportunities for indulging our love for this pastime were
not very frequent, we got a deal of pleasure out of it.
The score was as follows :
One Hundred and Fourth New York, 20
Thirteenth Mass., 62
Let the young people of to-day (1893) ponder on that score as
they recall sitting all the afternoon to see professional clubs play
without making a point on either side. While modesty forbids com-
mending our own playing, there is no reason why we should refrain
from bestowing praise on the One Hundred and Fourth New York,
though it is evident enough that they must have played a fine game
to have won even twenty points.
During our stay at Mitchell's Station, one of the officers of
the Thirteenth, while in the performance of his duties on the
picket line, in the vicinity of Cedar Mountain, picked up several
very good specimens of flint arrow-heads, such as are commonly
used by North American Indians. His curiosity becoming excited,
he continued his searches until he succeeded in filling his haversack
with arrow-heads, hatchets, and lance-heads. The land where they
were found belonged to a Mr. Yeager, a non-combatant, and was that
occupied by the rebel army at the battle of Cedar Mountain, August
9, 1862. Presumably this spot was once the site of an Indian
village, and possibly before the white man gained possession of the
" sacred soil " of Virginia. Mr. Yeager assured the finder that, as
long back as he could remember, he was in the habit of finding these
evidences of Indian occupation of his farm, and had long since lost
his interest in them as curiosities. It so happened at this time that
a fair was being held in Philadelphia in aid of the Sanitary or Christian
Commissions, information of which had reached us through the news-
papers. The idea occurred to the finder that these rude specimens
of the handicraft of another race might serve a useful purpose, and
he thereupon sent them, with an explanatory note, to the managers
of the fair, to be sold, and the receipts turned in as part of their
income. A letter was subsequently received stating that quite a con-
siderable sum was received from their sale.
310 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. The duties of outpost guard relieved the Thirteenth
from a strict observance of the following order issued
to the division :
General Orders,!
j^(,_ j5_ / Headquarters Second Division,
First Army Corps, March 20, 1864.
I. The signal for service will, until further orders, be as follows :
Reveille, daylight. Recall, 4 P.M.
Police call, I J minutes later. First call for, parade, 45 minutes before
Surgeon's call, 6 A.M. sunset.
Breakfast, 7 A.M. Second call, 15 minutes before sunset.
Guard mounting, 8 A.M. Tattoo, 9 P.M.
Drill, 9 A.M. Taps, 9.20 P.M.
Recall, 1 1 A.M. Sunday morning inspection, 8 A.M.
Dinner, 12.30 P.M. Guard mounting immediately after.
Drill, 2 P.M.
II. The calls will be sounded promptly at the hours named, and the men will
be ready to fall into the ranks instantly. The morning drill will be by company,
the afternoon by battalion or brigade. Particular attention will be paid to skir-
mishing, both by company and battalion. There will be a brigade drill every
Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.
III. At police call in the morning the whole command will be turned out,
and the camps swept and put in perfect order; at the same time earth vfill be
thrown in the sinks. Regimental commanders will be held responsible for this.
IV. The men's quarters will be inspected daily, and the coverings of the huts
removed every Saturday when the weather will permit.
V. Officers must attend and superintend roll-calls.
VI. At the first call for parade, companies will be formed and thoroughly
inspected by commanders; at the second call they will be inarched to the regi-
mental parade ground,
VII. The hours appointed for drill must be employed in drill, and not in
resting. Men will not be permitted to sit or lie down, and the prescribed uniform
must be worn on all duty under arms.
By coraiiiand of
BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBINSON.
The financial stringency that had for some time af-
Monday, fected the pocket-books of most of us was removed
March 21. to-day by the paymaster, and penury's tedious burden
vanished like dew before the sun.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 311
General Orders,"!
No. lo. / Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
March 24, 1864.
I. The following order has been received from the War Department :
II. The Second, Fifth, and Sixth Army Corps will each be consolidated into
two divisions. The First and Second Divisions of the Third Corps are transferred
to the Second Corps, preserving their badges and distinctive marks. The Third
Division of the Third Corps is transferred permanently to the Sixth Corps. The
three divisions now forming the First Corps are transferred to the Fifth Corps,
preserving their badges and distinctive marks, and on joining the Fifth Corps they
will be consolidated into two divisions.
The commanders of the divisions transferred to the Second, Fifth, and Sixth
Corps will at once report to the commanders of those corps for instructions.
III. The Major-General commanding avails himself of the occasion to say that,
in view of the reduced strength of nearly all the regiments serving in this army,
the temporary reduction of the number of army corps to three is a measure
imperatively demanded by the best interests of the service, and that the reasons
for attaching the First and Third Corps, for the time being, to other corps were
in no respect founded upon any supposed inferiority of those corps to the other
corps of this army. All the corps have equally proved their valor on many fields,
and all have equal claims to the confidence of the government and of the
country. The First and Third Corps will retain their badges and distinctive
marks, and the Major-General commanding indulges the hope that the ranks of
the army will be filled at an early day, so that those corps can be reorganized.
By command of Major-General Meade,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant-Adjula>il General.
A good deal of dissatisfaction was expressed with General Meade
for wiping out the First Corps, notwithstanding we were allowed lo
retain the corps badge in combination with that of the Fifth Corps
— a sop to our indignation.
General Orders,")
jjq_ g_ J Headquarters First Army Corps,
March 25, 1864,
On relinquishing command I take occasion to express the pride and pleasure I
have experienced in my connection with you and my profound regret at our
separation.
Identified by its service with the history of the war, the First Corps gave at
Gettysburg a crowning proof of valor and endurance, in saving from the grasp
of the enemy the strong position upon which the battle was fought.
312 THREE YEAB8 IN THE ARMY.
1864. The terrible losses suffered by this corps in the conflict attest its
supreme devotion to the country.
Though the corps has lost its distinctive name by the present changes, history
will not be silent upon the magnitude of its services.
JOHN NEWTON,
Major- General,
In his retirement from the command of the First Corps, General
Newton carried with him the good- will and respect of every oflScer
and soldier that had the honor to serve under him.
General Orders, 1
No. 17. J Headquarters Second Division,
Fifth Army Corps, March 26, 1864.
I. Immediately requisition will be made for everything necessary to equip the
troops for active service in the field, including shelter tents, pioneer tools, and
badges.
II. All men, including clerks, waiters, etc., must be armed and equipped. In
addition to the division badge, every man will be required to have on his cap the
number of his regiment.
By command of
BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBINSON.
Each company was required to be provided with an axe, and each
regiment was to have five pioneers.
Tuesday, An order was received to-day from General Warren
March 29. containing the following paragraph :
III. Details, unless otherwise ordered, will be for one day only, and men
must eat their breakfast before leaving camp, and bring their dinner in haver-
sacks.
What, in the name of all that was good and holy, came over the
honorable major-general when he penned that paragraph about
eating our breakfast and bringing our dinner was more than we could
guess. This was the first instance when any solicitude was shown,
after we had drawn rations, as to whether we ate them at once, or
divided them into nine parts. "Bring their dinners in haversacks "
pleased us immensely.
The monotony of camp life was relieved to-day by a celebration
which took place in the camp of the Sixteenth Maine, in honor of
the return of its colonel, who had recently escaped from Richmond.
THIRTEENTB MASS. VOLS. 313
1864. Greased pig, sack races, and base-ball were among the
list of sports marked out for the day's pleasure. We had
a good time, and as the Maine boys had learned from experience not
to trust their pocket-books in reach of our substitutes, there was
nothing to mar the fun. One of the Thirteenth boys succeeded in
capturing the " greasy pig," so there was fresh pork in camp.
[Circular.] Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
March 29, 1864.
The General commanding the corps regrets to find that a false notion prevails
with many soldiers that labor is not their duty; nevertheless the removal of filth
and garbage, the making of sinks and drains, are all necessary to prevent sickness,
and increase the number to stand by our sides in the day of battle. In making
good roads, we make certain the timely arrival of provisions and equipage at all
times, and in movements against the enemy secure the rapidity to the advance
and reliability in the calculated arrival of supports and reserves.
No officer should camp in a wet and filthy place, and leave it so, or allow it to
accumulate, nor be content to get his own command over a difficult place, if he
does not expect to see his men failing from bad health and disease, and be left
alone when he meets the enemy. Duty in all these things requires labor, with
axe and pickaxe, spade and shovel. In their proper places these harmless tools
contribute as much to the success of an army as the most ponderous projectile,
the deadliest rifle, or the sharpest sword. There is no great soldier of ancient or
modern times who succeeded more by fighting than by using his troops as
laborers and mechanics. Work of such vital importance is therefore honorable to
all engaged, and should be performed with as much good-will as the storming of
an intrenchment.
The General commanding the corps believes with the true impulses of a soldier,
and appeals to the good sense and patriotism of his command, and calls upon his
officers of all grades, when engaged on working parties, to be constantly on the
alert, to preserve order and regulate the apportionment of the details so the labor
shall fall equally upon all, and be performed with despatch.
The experience which all will acquire in this will habituate the officers to com-
mand, and their men to obedience, ami add an essential element to their morale
in battle. Troops that work cheerfully, and march well, always fight well, and to
the best advantage.
Working details will always be made out, and conducted according to General
Orders No. 9, from these headquarters.
By command of
MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN.
314 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
April 8, 1864.
[Circular.]
The granting of all leaves of absence and furloughs having been stopped,
except in extreme cases, no others will be granted.
The dangerous illness or death of any relative will not hereafter be so consid-
ered. These grievous events are common to all, as much so at least to the soldier in
the field as to those at home.
Soldiers and their friends should remember that they came here in their
country's cause, and that the prospect of death to the latter should no more call
the soldier from his duties than the greater chance to which he himself is exposed.
An extreme case can only be made out when the applicant's presence is
necessary to perform some essential duty at home more important to him than the
service of the country, and which no one else can attend to.
This circular will be read at the head of every camp and regiment in the
command.
By order of
MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN.
The winter did not pass without our receiving boxes
from home ; those remembrances, prepared by mothers
^ ' ■ and sisters, were filled with choice eatables, and frequently
contained things to wear. These evidences of thought-
fulness of friends at home were very cheering, and as each little mess
shared their contents they brought pleasure to many. There were
others, besides our immediate friends, who were working for the
soldier. Young ladies were busy knitting stockings and mittens and
making comfortable articles of wearing apparel, which were sent out
as fast as collected. These were all highly appreciated. We were
not always aware who these kind friends were, though now and then
a name would be found tucked away in some corner and when dis-
covered, often started a pleasant correspondence which was not the
least of the pleasures that grew out of their anxiety for the welfare
of the soldiers. This noble work was carried on during the war
with an unremitting labor, and a devotion that should never be for-
gotten while a soldier is alive to express his appreciation of the
practical good that it did. Nor were the women our only friends.
There were men in Boston, as well as in other parts of the State,
who were untiring in their efforts in behalf of the soldiers. They
not only contributed time and labor, but gave large sums of money
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 315
1864. to help along the work that was being done by the
women. It was a disinterested work for which they got
nothing, not even a "thank you" from the men whose interest they
had so much at heart. Soldiers were too far away without suitable
opportunities for expressing the appreciation they felt at this patriotic
service that was being carried on in their absence. The names of
some of these men became known through our correspondence with
friends, and are cherished among the recollections of that exciting
period. It is difficult to estimate how much good was done by these
earnest patriotic men and women to give encouragement to soldiers,
or how much they did to keep alive patriotism in others. Soldiers
should never forget, that without the aid of these people at home,
the war could not have been successfully carried on.
On the fourth of the month we had a snow-storm that would have
honored Massachusetts Bay. It was followed by rain, and then
mud — the "sacred soil" of Virginia.
On the eighth we were reviewed by General Grant. Our curi-
osity was very great to see the new commander. This review was a
new experience to us. The absence of " red tape " was one of its
noticeable features. We waited in line but a short time when an
officer was seen approaching at a gallop, completely outstripping the
other members of his staff, who found it impossible to keep pace with
him, so great was the speed. He made a complete circuit of the
regiment, looking every man square in the face, returning our salute
as he passed along, continuing the same rapid gait to each camp of
the brigade until the work was completed. It was performed so
quickly that we hardly realized that it was done. His staff came
straggling along as best they could on their panting horses, to the
great amusement of the boys.
This review afforded a topic for some lively conversation. It was
so much different from anything we had seen before ; there was such
an air of business about it, and so little reaching for adulation, that
it produced a good effect by inspiring confidence in the new com-
mander.
In accordance with an Act of Congress, approved February 24,
1864, an order was issued from Army Headquarters on the 29th
316 THESE YEARS IN THE AliMV.
1864. of March, containing a provision that " Any person now
in the military service of the United States, who shall fur-
nish satisfactory proof that he is a mariner by vocation, or an able
seaman, or an ordinary seaman, may enlist into the navy, under such
rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the President of the
United States." The regulations provided that the commanding
officer of each company should forward all applications for transfer
with the proof that the applicants were mariners by vocation. When
the news of the passage of this order reached the army some of the
boys thought a transfer to the navy might be a good way to round off
their three years' service ; but, as the provisions of the act were read,
it was seen that unless a man could splice the main brace, dance a
hornpipe, or was master of other nautical accomplishments, such as
hitching up the trowsers, a habit peculiar to man-of-war's men, or he
could tell when the sun crossed the foreyard, he could not be
accepted. The only nautical experience most of us had was that
gained by paddling a raft on a duck- pond during our school days,
which was not sufficient to come within the meaning of " vocation."
There were times when fatigued by long marches, or when compelled
to rest one's bones on the unyielding surface of the frozen ground,
that we wished ourselves snugly stowed away in a hammock between
decks, undisturbed by the inclemency of the weather. In spite of
the allurements of comfort, which our imaginations associated with a
" Life on the ocean wave," we hesitated before jumping from the
frying-pan into the fire. Even the natural hankering which the
human mind has for riches, and which was said might be gratified by
the distribution of prize-money, failed to stimulate our cupidity.
Our companions, the substitutes, looked at the matter differently.
They were disgusted with the tiresome routine of a soldier's life, and
longed to go where rations of rum were provided with regularity.
Some of these men had served in the navy under other names, and
knew what they were talking about. According to the government's
idea, the vigor and strength that rum was supposed to impart to the
muscles of a sailor was unnecessary to the soldier.
There were twenty-six of our roistering buccaneer bounty-jumpers
who availed themselves of the provisions of the order, and they were
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 317
1864. promptly transferred, and it was " good riddance to bad
rubbish" when they left.
According to Samuel Johnson, " Being in a ship is being in a jail,
with the chance of being drowned." Hence the appropriateness of
transferring our substitutes.
On the 1 9th of April an order was received from General Robin-
son that " Particular attention will be paid at battalion drill to the
formation of squares both direct and oblique, and to the formation
of columns against cavalry. Regiments should be so drilled that
the movements can be made promptly," and that " during an en-
gagement men must not be allowed to leave the ranks to accompany
their wounded comrades to the rear ; this duty will be performed by
men of the ambulance corps ; neither will they be allowed to leave
for want of ammunition." We were first drilled in the formation of
squares when we were at Fort Independence and pretty continuously
ever since, so we were tolerably familiar with that movement.
[Circular.] Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
April 25, 1864.
The first evening parade after this is received, the General commanding the
corps directs that in each regiment it must be announced that all applicants for
admission to the free military school at Philadelphia, on a furlough for thirty days,
for the purpose of becoming qualified to command colored troops, shall be handed
in before next morning. A report will be at once made of the total number of
such applications in each regiment and the number present in the regiment to
these headquarters.
Prompt return in this case is desirable.
By command of
MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN.
We broke up our winter quarters and marched a short
Tuesday, distance across Cedar Run to a hill near by, and after
April 26. dark moved again to the right of the camp of the
Thirty-ninth and pitched our shelters.
The officers were again notified to reduce the quantity of their
luggage, but the rank and file as usual were allowed to carry an un-
limited amount. As our comrades, the substitutes who left us to
seek foF glory on the high seas, had stolen about everything we had
318 THREE YEARS Ilf THE ARMY.
1864. but the pediculus humanus, we had little trouble in keep-
ing within the bounds of prudence.
The following, taken from the report of General Grant on the
operations of the armies of the United States, outlines the duties
imposed on the armies operating near Richmond :
Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his objective
point; that wherever Lee went he would go also. For his movement two plans
presented themselves : one to cross the Rapidan below Lee, moving by his right
flank; the other above, moving by his left. Each presented advantages over the
other with corresponding objections. By crossing above, t.ee would be cut off
from all chance of ignoring Richmond or going north on a raid. But if we took
this route all we did would have to be done while the rations we started with held
out; besides, it separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed how to
cooperate. If we took the other route, Brandy Station could be used as a base
of supplies until another was secured on the York or James Rivers. Of these,
however, it was decided to take the lower route.
The following letter of instruction was addressed to Maj.-Gen.
B. F. Butler :
Fort Munroe, Va., April 2, 1864.
Maj.-Gen. B. F. Butler:
General : In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall commence at as
early a day as practicable, it is proposed to have cooperative action of all the
armies in the field, as far as this object can be accomplished.
It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three large ones to act as
so many units, owing to the absolute necessity of holding on to the territory
already taken from the enemy. But generally speaking, concentration can be
practically effected by armies moving to the interior of the enemy's country firom
the territory they have to guard. By such movement they interpose themselves
between the enemy and the country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number
necessary to guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a part of
the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's army and Richmond
being the greater objects toward which our attention must be directed in the next
campaign, it is desirable to unite all the force we can against them. The neces-
sity of covering Washington with the Army of the Potomac, and of covering your
department with your army, makes it impossible to unite these forces at the
beginning of any move. I propose, therefore, what comes nearest this of any-
thing that seems practicable : The Army of the Potomac will act from its present
base, Lee's army being the objective point. You will collect all the forces from
your command that can be spared from garrison duty — I should say, not less than
twenty thousand effective men — to operate on the south side of James River,
Richmond being your objective point. To the force you already have will be
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 319
1S64. added about ten thousand men from South Carolina, under Major-
General Gillmore, who will command them in person. Maj.-Gen.
W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to command the troops sent into the field
from your own department. General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at
Fortress Munroe, with all the troops on transports, by the i8th instant, or as soon
thereafter as practicable. Should you not receive notice by that time to move,
you will make such disposition of them and your other force as you may deem
best calculated to deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made.
When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much force as possible.
Fortify, or rather intrench at once, and concentrate all your troops for the field
there as rapidly as you can. From City Point directions cannot be given at this
time for your further movements.
The fact that has already been stated — that is, that Richmond is to be your
objective point, and that there is to be cooperation between your force and the
Army of the Potomac — must be your guide. This indicates the necessity of your
holding close to the south bank of the James River as you advance. Then,
should the enemy be forced into his intrenchments in Richmond, the Army of
the Potomac would follow, and by means of transports the two armies would
become a unit. All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your
discretion. If, however, you think it practicable to use your cavalry south of
you so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford about the time of the general
advance, it would be of immense advantage.
You will please forward for my information at the earliest practicable day, all
orders, details, and instructions you may give°^br the execution of this order.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
On the l6th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On the 19th, in
order to secure full cooperation between his army and that of General Meade, he
was informed that I expected him to move from Fort Munroe the same day that
General Meade moved from Culpeper. The exact time I was to telegraph him as
soon as it was fixed, and that it would not be earlier than, the 27th of April;
that it was my intention to fight Lee between Culpeper and Richmond if he
would stand. Should he, however, fall back into Richmond, I would follow up
and make a. junction with his (General Butler's) army on the James River; that,
could I be certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side, so as
to have his left resting on the James above the city, I would form the junction
there; that circumstances might make this course advisable anyhow; that he
should use every exertion to secure footing as far up the south side of the
river as he could, and as soon as possible after receipt of orders to move;
that if he could not carry the city, he should at least detain as large a force there
as possible. In coSperation with the main movements against Lee and Johnston,
I was desirous of using all other troops necessarily kept in departments remote
from the fields of immediate operations, and also those kept in the background
320 rilREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. for the protection of an extended line between the loyal States and
the armies operating against them.
Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations were de-
layed until the first of May, when, everything being in readiness, and the roads
favorable, orders were given for a general movement of all the armies not later
than the fourth of May. My first object being to break the military power of the
rebellion, and capture the enemy's important strongholds, made me desirous that
General Butler should succeed in his movement against Richmond, as that would
tend more than anything else, unless it were the capture of Lee's army, to
accomplish this desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my determination,
by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to retreat, or to so cripple him that he
could not detach a large force to go north and still retain enough for the defence
of Richmond. It was well understood by both Generals Butler and Meade,
before starting on the campaign, that it was my intention to put both their armies
south of the James River, in case of failure to destroy Lee without it. Before
giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at Fort Munroe, and in con-
versation pointed out the apparent importance of getting possession of Petersburg,
and destroying railroad communication as far south as possible. Believing,
however, in the practicability of capturing Richmond unless it was reenforced, 1
made that the objective point of his operations. As the Army of the Potomac was
to move simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with safety,
and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to the defence of the city
in time to meet a rapid movement from the north of James River.
General Orders, I
No. z'l. i Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
May 2, 1864.
The Commanding General having learned that, notwithstanding the caution con-
tained in General Orders, No. 22, of April 25, 1864, from these headquarters,
there are men in this army who refuse to do duty on the ground that their term
of service has expired, it will be made known to such men that their conduct,
being open mutiny, will be punished with death without trial unless they promptly
return to duty ; and, hereafter, any soldier who refuses to do duty on a similar
plea will instantly be shot, without any form of trial whatever. The honor of the
service, and the necessities of the hour, admit of no other disposition of such
cases. The Commanding General again expresses the hope that the soldiers of
this army will respectfully ask for and cheerfully abide by the decision of the War
Department with respect to their term of service, but he has no further word of
warning for those who, at a time like the present, choose to defy lawful authority.
Corps and other independent commanders are charged with the execution of this
order.
By command of Major-General Meade,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
thirteenth: mass. vols. 321
1864. Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
May 2, 1864.
[Orders.]
1. The army will move on Wednesday, the 4th of May, 1864.
2. On the day previous, Tuesday, the 3d of May, Major-General Sheridan,
commanding Cavalry Corps, will move Gregg's cavalry division to the vicinity of
Richardsville. It will be accompanied by one-half the canvas pontoon train, the
engineer troops with which will repair the road to Ely's Ford as far as practicable
without exposing their work to the observation of the enemy. Guards will be
placed on all the occupied houses on or in the vicinity of the route of the cavalry
and in advance toward the Rapidan, so as to prevent any communication with the
enemy by the inhabitants. The same precaution will be taken at the same time
in front of the First and Third Cavalry Divisions, and wherever it may be con-
sidered necessary. At 2 A.M. of the 4th May, Gregg's division will move to
Ely's Ford, cross the Rapidan as soon as the canvas pontoon bridge is laid, if the
river is not fordable, and as soon as the infantry of the Second Corps is up, will
move to the vicinity of Piny Branch Church, or in that section, throwing recon-
naissances well out on the Pamunkey road, toward Spottsylvania Court House,
Hamilton's Crossing, and Fredericksburg. The roads past Piny Branch Church,
Todd's Tavern, etc., will be kept clear for the passage of the infantry the following
day. The cavalry division will remain in this position to cover the passage of the
army trains, and will move with them and cover their left flank. At midnight of
the .3d of May, the Third Cavalry Division, with one half the canvas pontoon
bridge train, which will join it after dark, will move to Germanna Ford, taking the
plank-road, and cross the Rapidan as soon as the bridge is laid, if the river is not
fordable, and hold the crossing until the infantry of the Fifth Corps is up. It will
then move to Parker's Store, on the Orange Coiurt House plank-road, or that
vicinity, sending out strong reconnaissances on the Orange pike and plank-roads
and the Catharpin and Pamunkey roads, until they feel the enemy, and at least as
far as Robertson's Tavern, the New Hope Church, and Almond's or Robertson's.
All intelligence concerning the enemy will be communicated with promptitude to
headquarters and to the corps and division commanders of the nearest infantry
troops.
3. Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth Corps, will send two divisions
at midnight of the 3d instant, by way of Stevensburg and the plank-road, to the
crossing at Germanna Ford. So much of the bridge train of the Fifth Corps as
may be necessary to bridge the Rapidan at Germanna Ford, with such artillery as
may be required, will accompany these divisions, which will be followed by the
remainder of the corps at such hour that the column will cross the Rapidan with-
out delay. Such disposition of the troops and artillery as may be found necessary
to cover the bridge will be made by the corps commander, who, after crossing, will
move to the vicinity of the Old Wilderness Tavern, on the Orange Court House
pike. The corps will move the following day past the head of Catharpin Run,
crossing the Orange Court House plank-road at Pareer's Store.
322 THESE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. 4. Major-General Sedgwick, commanding Sixth Corps, will move
at 4 A.M. of the 4th instant, by way of Stevensburg and the Ger-
manna plank-road to Germanna Ford, following the Fifth Corps, and, after crossing
the Rapidan, will bivouac on the heights beyond. The canvas pontoon train will
be taken up as soon as the troops of the Sixth Corps have crossed, and will follow
immediately in rear of the troops of that corps. So much of the bridge train of
the Sixth Corps as may be necessary to bridge the Rapidan at Culpeper Mine Ford
will proceed to Richardsville in rear of the Reserve Artillery, and, as soon as it is
ascertained that the Reserve Artillery are crossing, it will move to Culpeper Mine
Ford, where the bridge will be established. The engineers of this bridge train
will at once open a road from Culpeper Mine Ford direct to Richardsville.
5. Major-Ueneral Hancock, commanding Second Corps, will send two
divisions, with so much of the bridge train as may be necessary to bridge the
Rapidan at Ely's Ford, and such artillery as may be required, at midnight of the
3d instant to Ely's Ford. The remainder of the corps will follow at such hour
that the column will cross the Rapidan without delay. The canvas pontoon
bridge at this ford will be taken up as soon as the troops of this corps have passed,
and will move with it at the head of the trains that accompany the troops. The
wooden pontoon bridge will remain. The Second Corps will enter the Stevens-
burg and Richardsville road at Madden's, in order that the route from Stevensburg
to the plank-road may be free for the Fifth and Sixth Corps. After crossing the
Rapidan, the Second Corps will move to the vicinity of Chandler's or Chancellors-
ville.
6. It is expected that the advanced divisions of the Fifth and Second Corps,
with the wooden pontoon trains, will be at the designated points of crossing not
later than 6 A.M. of the 4th instant.
7. The Reserve Artillery will move at 3 A.M. of the 4th instant, and follow
the Second Corps, passing Mountain Run at Ross' Mill or Hamilton's Cross at
Ely's Ford, take the road to Chancellorsville, and halt for the night at Hunting
Creek.
8. Great care will be taken by the corps commanders that the roads are
promptly repaired by the pioneers wherever needed, not only for the temporary
wants of the division or corps to which the pioneers belong, but for the passage
of the troops and trains that follow on the same route.
9. During the movement of the 4th and following days the commanders of the
Fifth and Sixth Corps will occupy the roads on the right flank, to cover the pas-
sage of their corps, and will keep their flankers well out in that direction. The
commanders of the Second Corps and Reserve Artillery will, in a similar man-
ner, look out for the left flank. Whenever practicable, double columns will be
used to shorten the columns. Corps commanders will keep in communication
and connect with each other, and cooperate whenever necessary. Their picket-
lines will be connected. They will keep the Commanding General constantly
advised of their progress and of everything important that occurs, and will send
staff officers to acquaint him with the location of their headquarters. During the
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 323
1864. movement of the 4th instant headquarters will be on the route of the
Fifth and Sixth Corps. It will be established at night between
these corps on the Germanna plank-road.
10. The infantry troops will take with them fifty rounds of ammunition upon
the person, three days' full rations in the haversacks, three days' bread and
small rations in the knapsacks, and three days' beef on the hoof. Each corps
will take with it one-half its infantry ammunition, one-half the intrenching
tools, one hospital wagon, and one medicine wagon for each brigade ; one half
the ambulance trains, and the light spring wagons and pack animals allowed at
the various headquarters. No other train or means of transportation than those
just specified will accompany the corps, except such wagons as may be neces-
sary for the forage for immediate use (five days) . The artillery will have with
them the ammunition of the caissons only.
11. The subsistence and other trains, loaded with the amount of rations,
forage, infantry, and artillery ammunition, etc., heretofore ordered, the surplus
wooden pontoons of the different corps, etc., will be assembled under the
direction of the chief quartermaster of the army in the vicinity of Richardsville,
with a view to crossing the Rapidan by bridges at Ely's Ford and Culpeper
Mine Ford.
12. A detail of one thousand or one thousand two hundred men will be made
from each corps as guard for its subsistence and other trains. This detail will
be composed of entire regiments as far as practicable. No other guards what-
ever for regimental, brigade, division, or corps wagons will be allowed. Each
detail will be under the command of an officer selected for that purpose, and the
whole will be commanded by the senior officer of the three. This guard will be
so disposed as to protect the trains on the march and in park. The trains are like-
wise protected by cavalry on the flanks and rear.
13. Major-General Sheridan, commanding Cavalry Corps, will direct the
First Cavalry Division to call in its pickets and patrols on the right on the
morning of the 4th instant, and hold itself ready to move and cover the trains
of the army. It will picket and watch the fords of the Rapidan from Rapidan
Station to Germanna Ford. On the morning of the 5th the First Cavalry Division
will cross the Rapidan at Germanna Ford and cover the right flank of the trains
while crossing the Rapidan and during their movements in rear of the army. The
signal stations on Cedar, Pony, and Stony Mountains will be maintained as long
as practicable.
14. The wooden pontoon bridges at Germanna Ford and Ely's Ford will
remain for the passage of General Burnside's array. That at Culpeper Mine Ford
will be taken up, under the direction of the chief engineer, as soon as the trains
have crossed, and will move with the train of its corps.
By command of Major-General Meade,
S. WILLIAMS,
Assistant- Adjutant General.
324 THREE TEAHS IN THE ARMY.
1864. Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
May 3, 1864.
[Circular.]
General: The First Division, followed by the Third, will move at midnight,
crossing the Mountain Run at the double bridge; thence direct to Stevensburg;
thence toward Doggett's; thence about one mile to a place marked " Ruins," at
which point an officer will be stationed ; thence the road will be marked by men
stationed along the route to the plank-road; thence along the plank-road to
Germanna Ford. The Fourth Division, followed by the Second, will proceed
from Culpeper, keeping along the south side of Mountain Run, to Stevensburg;
thence on the main road toward Shepherd's Grove to a place about two and one-
half miles beyond Stevensburg, marked "Ruins" on the map; thence to the
right, over a road to be marked by persons on the ground, to the plank-road;
and thence to Germanna. These divisions will be careful not to cut into those
they may find on their left, moving in the same direction.
The Artillery Brigade will at midnight move direct to Stevensburg; thence on
the main road toward Shepherd's Grove to a place marked " Ruins " on the map;
thence to the right, over a road to be marked by persons on the ground, to the plank-
road; thence to Germanna Ford. It will have precedence over the Fourth and
Second Divisions, and follow the First and Third (each division having its train
with it). Whenever the country will permit of different columns approaching
each other, they will continue moving in parallel lines. The brigade will take
wagons enough to ensure five days' forage, one wagon for sales to officers, one
wagon and spring wagon for brigade headquarters, one hospital and one medicine
wagon, and half its ambulances. No other wagons will be allowed. The rest of
the train of all kinds will be sent to the vicinity of Brandy Station, to make up the
corps train, which will have an especial guard.
The men will carry three full days' rations in haversacks, three days' bread and
small rations in the knapsacks, and three days' beef on the hoof. Care will be
taken that no fires are built along the route, nor any unusual ones in the camps,
as these may inform the enemy of our movement. The troops will cross the bridge
at Germanna Ford as fast as possible, move out and eat their breakfasts on the
other side, and then continue the march to Old Wilderness Tavern, taking up
position there as fast as arriving, the First Division moving up the turnpike,
toward Mine Run, about one mile. Each division will take half its own ammu-
nition and half its ambulance train, one hospital and one medicine wagon for
each brigade, wagons for five days' forage, and one wagon for headquarters of
each division and brigade, and the wagons for sales to officers. No other wagons
will be allowed.
The infantry will take fifty rounds of ammunition upon the person, three days'
full rations in the haversacks, three days' bread and small rations in the knap-
sacks, and three days' beef on the hoof. General Griffin will detail a regiment of
about four hundred strong to guard the trains remaining behind; ' the quarter-
> Similar instructioas to General Robinson.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 325
1S64. master in charge of these will send to Colonel Owen, quartermaster
Fifth Corps, in Culpeper, for instructions. Division commanders
will give instructions to all their officers to prevent their men from building fires
along the line of march, or any unusual ones in camp, so as to indicate to the
enemy our movements.
By command of Major-General Warren,
FRED. T. LOCKE,
Assislanl Adjutant-General.
326 TBBEE YEARS I-V THE ARMY.
CHAPTER XVI.
1S64. We turned out at-i A.M. and a little before 3 o'clock
Wednesday, gt^fgfj on the march toward the Rapidan River. On
*^*^ *■ the old maps of Virginia, this river is recorded as the
" Rapid Ann." Whether it was named for some woman
whose gait had a noticeable quickness, or whose habits were thought
by her neighbors to be somewhat skittish, we are unable to say, nor
does it matter much anyhow. One thing is certain, this stream had
occupied a large part of our attention, off and on, for many months,
and as we crossed it once more, we speculated a good deal as to the
number of days that would elapse before we should see it again ; but
it so happened that we now crossed it for the last time. " On to
Richmond " was once more the cry. Joined the Second Division of
the Fifth Corps near Culpeper, continuing our march, crossing the
river at Germanna Ford, halting at 3.30 P.M. on the south side of
the plank-road about two and a half miles from Robertson's tavern.
The weather was hot and the roads dusty. The distance covered
was twenty-two miles. The whole army was on the move, and an
imposing spectacle it must have been to the looker-on. The men
carried six days' rations. Two and a half months more and we
should be marching toward Boston unless we took up our residence,
before that time, in the " promised land."
Few persons, even soldiers, have any idea of the size of a wagon
train required to feed, clothe, and provide ammunition for an army
numbering a hundred thousand men, say nothing of the ambulances,
the wagons for transporting the hospital stores, the baggage of
officers, and the books and papers necessary to each regiment. It
is said that General Grant's wagon train if stretched out in a con-
tinuous line would reach a distance of one hundred miles. It was an
interesting sight to see a "wagon park." Five hundred wagons,
"MAPlWTC
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 327
1864. arranged in lines as straight as soldiers on dress parade,
were frequently to be seen at the headquarters of the
chief quartermaster, where also might be seen harness-makers,
wheelwrights' repair-shops, blacksmiths, and horseshoers, all in full
operation, where hundreds of horses and mules were shod every
month, and wagons and harnesses repaired.
A park of five hundred wagons meant a collection of not less than
two thousand mules. Multiply the noise made by one mule by two
thousand, and you can judge how little chance there is for sleep
within a radius of ten miles.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
May 4, 1864.
Soldiers : Again you are called upon to advance on the enemies of your
country. The time and the occasion are deemed opportune by your commanding
general to address you a few words of confidence and caution. You have been
reorganized, strengthened, and fully equipped in every respect. You form a part
of the several armies of your country, the whole under the direction of an able
and distinguished general, who enjoys the confidence of the Government, the
people, and the army. Your movement being in cooperation with others, it is of
the utmost importance that no effort should be left unspared to make it successful.
Soldiers ! the eyes of the whole country are looking with anxious hope to the
blow you are about to strike in the most sacred cause that ever called men to arms.
Remember your homes, your wives and children, and bear in mind that the
sooner your enemies are overcome the sooner you will be returned to enjoy the
benefits and blessings of peace. Bear with patience the hardships and sacrifices
you will be called upon to endure.
Have confidence in your officers and in each other. Keep your ranks on the
•march and on the battlefield, and let each man earnestly implore God's blessing,
and endeavor by his thoughts and actions to render himself worthy of the favor
he seeks. With clear consciences and strong arms, actuated by a high sense of
duty, fighting to preserve the Government and the institutions handed down to us
by our forefathers — if true to ourselves — victory, under God's blessing, must and
will attend our efforts.
GEO. G. MEADE,
Major-General Commanding.
Thursday ^^ daylight this morning, the march was resumed in
May 5. obedience to the following order :
328 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMT.
1864. Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
May 4, 1864, 6 P.M.
Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth Corps, will move at 5 A.M. to Par-
ker's store, on the Orange Court House plank-road, and extend his right towards
the Sixth Corps at Old Wilderness tavern.
By command of
MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE.
We marched about two miles and halted in line of battle. We
were soon sent to support Griffin's division. Early in the afternoon,
after several unimportant changes, we took a position in the first line
of battle on the extreme left, in the thick woods and underbrush.
Here the regiment became seriously annoyed by the enemy's skir-
mishers on our flank and rear. Skirmishers were sent to cover our
left flank, which was seriously exposed, and very soon they became
engaged with the enemy. A charge was made on our front by the
enemy and repulsed. The rebels retiring, the line advanced and
changed front. At the same time our skirmishers on the flank were
attacked with renewed vigor and fell back ; finding themselves iso-
lated from the main line, they returned to the earthworks in their
rear. We had one officer and eight men wounded. Just before
going into action in the morning, Generals Grant and Meade rode
up to observe our position, etc., the bullets kicking up a dust all
about them.
Our skirmishers, who became lost in the woods yester-
Friday, day, returned to the brigade this morning.
May 6. In the forenoon, we moved forward a short distance
and halted without seeing the enemy. In the afternoon
we marched to the left, three miles, and began building earthworks,
while the men not so engaged kept up a lively skirmish firing with
the enemy. We lost an officer who was mortally wounded.
During the day, we saw the Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth,
and Fifty-ninth Massachusetts regiments just out from home. We
also saw several of our boys who had received commissions in the
Fifty-ninth. Our morning report to-day showed one hundred and
sixty-nine men on duty.
Our corps (the Fifth) suffered a severe loss to-day by the death
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 329
1864. of General Wadsworth, commander of the Fourth Divi-
sion. We have avoided, as much as possible, the mention
of officers not immediately connected with us, but General Wadsworth
is an exception. Few officers in the army possessed greater quali-
fications to excite the admiration of soldiers. We first saw him at
Fredericksburg in December, 1862, and almost daily thereafter, until
we were established in our winter quarters at Mitchell's Station. We
had read in the newspapers accounts of some of his patriotic services
in behalf of his government, but the one that appealed most strongly
to our young minds was that of serving without pay. To see a man
nearly sixty years of age disregarding the pleasures and comforts that
opulence can confer, and which are so very desirable at his age,
ignoring the risks to health, or danger to life, to enter the service of
his country, was an extraordinary example of patriotism, and would
have made him a marked figure in any army.
During the absence of General Newton after the battle of Gettys-
burg, he commanded the First Corps until we crossed the Potomac
River into Virginia, and we felt rather proud of serving under a man
of such lofty patriotism. In the first day's fight at Gettysburg, he
was conspicuous for the courage and gallantry he showed where
fighting was the hardest, and strengthened the attachment which we
already felt for him as an officer.
He was born in Genesee, N.Y., October 30, 1807, and was edu-
cated at Harvard and Yale colleges, after which he studied law in
Albany, N.Y., completing his course with Daniel Webster. Though
admitted to the bar in 1833, he never practised his profession, as his
time was wholly occupied with the management of his family estate
in western New York. Although a Democrat, he supported the
Free-Soil party of 1848, and continued to act in defence of the anti-
slavery movement, being presidential elector in 1856, and again in
i860. When communication was cut off with the capital, which
happened for a short time in 1861, he chartered two ships on his
own responsibility, loaded them with provisions, and went with them
to Annapolis, where he superintended their delivery. He was a
volunteer aid on the staff of General McDowell at the first battle of
Bull Run, where he was commended for his bravery and humanity.
380 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. On the 9th of August following he was appointed a
brigadier-general of volunteers, and assigned to duty under
General McClellan. On March 15, 1862, be became military gover-
nor of the District of Columbia, and in the autumn of the same year
was the Republican candidate for governor of New York, but was de-
feated by Horatio Seymour. In December, 1862, he was assigned
to the command of a division under General Burnside, taking part
in the battle of Fredericksburg. He displayed great skill as com-
mander of the First Division of the First Corps at Gettysburg, his
troops being the first that engaged the enemy in the first day's fight.
On the reorganization of the Army of the Potomac in the spring of
1864, he was assigned to the command of the Fourth Division of the
Fifth Corps.
While rallying his troops, he was struck in the head by a bullet,
and before he could be removed the enemy had gained possession
of the ground where he laid. Although unconscious, he lingered for
two days. Horace Greeley, in his " American Conflict," says :
"The country's salvation claimed no nobler sacrifice than that of
Gen. James S. Wadsworth, of New York. No one surrendered more
for his country's sake, or gave his life more joyfully for her deliver-
ance."
During our march from Gettysburg to Willianisport an incident oc-
curred, which, though of trivial importance, made a deep impression
on the minds of those who were a witness to it. We had halted for a
rest, when General Wadsworth made his appearance. Seeing one of
the boys without shoes he stopped his horse and called to a citizen,
who was standing near by, and asked him if he was a Union man,
and the man answering that he was, the general told him to take off
his boots and give them to that barefooted soldier, adding, " It won't
hurt you to do that much for your country." Having waited long
enough to see his order carried out he passed along. There was so
much sincerity, so much tender solicitude for the soldier, expressed
in his manner, and the tone of his voice, that the scene is not likely
to be forgotten by those who were a witness to it.
In the very interesting book, " Personal Reminiscences," by L. E.
Chittenden, who was Register of the Treasury during the adminis-
TniRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 331
1864. tration of Mr. Lincoln, may be found a sketch of General
Wadsworth, of which the following is an extract :
Wadsworth fell yesterday. He is in the hands of the enemy, either dead or
mortally wounded.
I remember now the sharp pang of sorrow that went through my heart when
this despatch was laid on ray table; for James S. Wadsworth was a lovable man,
my model of the very best type of the citizen of a free republic. I first knew
him in the Peace Conference. He was then in the prime of life, with a magnifi-
cent physique, an open, frank face, a kind heart, and a fearless soul. After our
call upon President Buchanan, he regarded our mission in the conference as
ended. He said to James A. Seddon, of Virginia, " Why do you persist in your
attempt to deceive the North? You secessionists mta.n fght ! You will keep
right on with your treasonable schemes until you either whip us or we discipline
you. I shall stay here until Congress adjourns on the third of March, because I
cannot honorably resign from the conference. Then I shall go home and help
my people to get ready for the war in which you slaveholders intend to involve
the Republic."
After the conference I heard no more of Wadsworth until, among the first
of the seventy-five thousand, he appeared in Washington with a full regiment of
his neighbors from the Genesee Valley. They came so promptly, it was said, be-
cause they were armed and clothed by Wadsworth himself. ... I loved
James S. Wadsworth. Here is what I wrote of him when he fell in May, 1864:
" In the Peace Conference or in the world there was never a purer or more
unselfish patriot. Those of us who were associated with him politically had
learned to love and respect him. His adversaries admired his unflinching de-
votion to his country and his manly frankness and candor. He was the type of a
true American, able, unselfish, prudent, unambitious, and good. Other pens will
do justice to his memory, but I thought, as I heard the last account of him alive,
as he lay within the rebel lines, his face wearing that serenity which grew more
beautiful the nearer death approached, that the good and true men of the nation
would prize their government more highly when they remembered that it could
only be maintained by such sacrifices."
Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
Via Orange Court House, May 6, 1864, 8 P.M.
(Received Richmond, 4.45 P.M., 7th.)
Secretary of War:
Early this morning as the divisions of General Hill, engaged yesterday, were
being relieved, the enemy advanced and created some confusion. The ground
lost was recovered as soon as the fresh troops got into position, and the enemy
driven back to his original line. Afterward we turned the left of his front line
and drove it from the field, leaving a large number of dead and wounded in our
332 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. hands, among them General Wadsworth. A subsequent attack
forced the enemy into his intrenched lines on the Brock Road,
extending from Wilderness Tavern, on the light to Trigg's MilU Every advance
on his part, thanks to a merciful God, has been repulsed. Our loss in killed
is not large, but we have many wounded ; most of them slightly, artillery being
little used on either side. I grieve to announce that Lieutenant-General Long-
street was severely wounded and General Jenkins killed. General Pegram was
badly wounded yesterday. General Stafford, it is hoped, will recover.
R. E. LEE.
We remained in the earthworks until 4 P.M., when
Saturday, we were withdrawn to a hill looking down upon the
May 7. junction of the Orange pike and the plank-road. Rations
of fresh meat were issued, large fires were built, and
coffee cooked.
Headquarteks Army of the Potomac,
May 7, 1864, 3 P.M.
(Extract.)
At 8.30 P.M., Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth Corps, will move to
Spottsylvania Court House, by way of Brock Road and Todd's Tavern.
By command of
MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE.
In obedience to this order, at 9 P.M. we started for Spottsylvania
Court House, and marched all night. As we passed along in the
rear of the rifle-pits, we noticed the tired soldiers fast asleep on the
ground, oblivious to the steady tramp of soldiers who were march-
ing within a few }rards of them. We wished we were in the same
blissful state. Finally the extreme left of the line was reached when
we entered a narrow, crooked road in the woods which were dark as
a pocket. Silently and stealthily the trail was followed in single file,
and with great care, as the path became obscured. We were now in
the heart of the Wilderness. Instructions were whispered along from
the head of the line to " jump the run j " " look out for the log," etc.,
with cautionary orders not to lose connection with each other, nor to
get out of the path. In this way we noiselessly marched until nearly
daylight, when a halt was made, and the men, tired out, threw them-
selves on the ground for rest or sleep. We had overtaken the cavalry
which was in advance, and now waited for daylight, having marched
TniRTEEXTir MASS. VOLS. 333
»864. only twelve miles, owing to the difficulties we encoun-
tered on the way. We were now within four miles of
Spottsylvania Court House.
When daylight afforded us an opportunity of seeing
Sunday, each Other's feces, it was impossible to restrain our laugh-
May 8. ter at the comical appearance we presented. The woods
where we hailed had been burned over by the fire which
had been nging for twenty-four hours previously, making a bei of
black ashes which stuck to our perspiring faces, so that, on waking,
we looked more like drivers of charcoal wagons than soldiers.
Little time was granted us for rest. Some were hastily cooking their
coffee while others were engaged in removing the black from tlieir
faces, when we were hurried forward, our division being in the
advance. It W'as now learned that both armies were hastening to
Spottsylvania Court House. Our present position was near Todd's
Tavern, north-e^t from the town. The cavalry under General Sheri-
dan opened the fight and were soon relieved by our (General Rob-
inson's) division. As we passed out of the woods we charged the
wooded hill in front, occupied by rebel dismounted cavalry, who
retreated as we advanced, m.iking a stand on another wooded hill
half a mile beyond. Here they kept up a brisk fire, aided by artil-
lery. Another charge was ordered, and up tlie hill we double-
quicked, driving the enemy from the crest across an open plain.
We were told by General Warren that we should find nothing but
dismounted ca\'alry, but instead, we found Longstreet's corps. A
section of a battery was discovered to the south and east of us that
had been used to retard our advance. The "Johnnies" were busy
getting it away, so we directed our fire toward the group of men and
horses, hoping to capture it. A company of cavalry now role out
from the woods on the flank and hailed the battery. We supp<Ked
it to be Union cavalry demanding its surrender, and consequently
reserved our fire. We soon discovered our error as we saw them
running off the battery with drag ropes, whereupon we resume*! our
firing, but were unable to prevent their securing the gun.
A halt of a few minutes now took place, while we retumeii the fire
from still another hill on the Akop ferm. Soon we received an order
334 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMT.
1864. from General Robinson to advance on the double-quick
over the plain. It was obeyed as well as it was possible
for men to obey after two previous charges following an all-night march.
There wasn't any double-quick in us. Though nearly played out, we
slowly advanced, while the rebel skirmishers fell back to the crest of
Laurel Hill. The firing from the rebel line behind earthworks on the
hill now became general, and although the men of our division (the
Second) were exhausted, yet we mustered strength enough to make
another charge on this division of rebel infantry. As we advanced,
the firing became more effective. The foot of the hill was gained.
As the Thirteenth was picking its way through the abatis and under-
brush, shouting was heard in our rear. On looking back, we saw a
whole brigade of rebels in line of battle, swinging round from the
rebel right flank. A general retreat was taking place among our
troops in the rear, so we followed suit by taking a circuitous route to
avoid the rebel line which was preparing to capture us. Upon
reaching the hill from which we advanced we halted and made a
stand. Our loss so far was one officer killed and one wounded, and
fourteen men wounded and twelve missing — probably captured.
The staff of the national colors was shattered by a solid shot. During
the repulse. General Warren took the flag with its shattered staff to
rally a Maryland brigade, a picture of which appeared in " Harper's
Weekly " for 1864, page 372.
At night we were moved out in front of the earthworks and laid
on our arms.
During the day the heat was intense.
General Robinson, our division commander, lost a leg in the fight
to-day. He was a real loss to the Army of the Potomac, as he
ranked very high, being considered one of the bravest as well as one
of the most efficient officers in the army. While we recognized in
him the qualities of a brave, upright, and clear-headed soldier,
candor compels us to say that the feeling of regard that many of us
felt for him was not unanimous. We were not always just in our
estimation of division commanders. We had an impression for a
while that he didn't like us, — this was a mistake. He hedged him-
self with so much strict official dignity, that he concealed many of the
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 835
1864. good qualities he possessed. It took a long time for us
to work up the regard which was natural for us to feel for
a brave and gallant officer, such as we knew him to be. We had been
eye-witnesses to his bravery and intelligence on plenty of occasions,
and to us he was always " Old Reliable." We got to like him very
much, and the fondness which we felt has grown with years, so that
to-day we gladly associate his name with Hartsuff and Reynolds, two
officers for whom, as already stated, the regiment had a great ad-
miration.
We make the following quotations from General Grant's Memoirs
respecting this campaign :
More desperate fighting has not been witnessed on this continent than that of
the 5th and 6th of May. Our victory consisted in having successfully crossed a
formidable stream, almost in the face of an enemy, and in getting the army
together as a unit.
It may be as well here as elsewhere to state two things connected with all
movements of the Army of the Potomac : first, in every change of position or
halt for the night, whether confronting the enemy or not, the moment arms were
stacked, the men intrenched themselves. For this purpose they would build up
piles of logs or rails if they could be found in their front, and dig a ditch, throw-
ing the dirt forward on the timber. Thus the digging they did counted in making
a depression to stand in, and increased the elevation in front of them. It is
wonderful how quickly they could in this way construct defences of considerable
strength. When a halt was made with a view of assaulting the enemy, or in his
presence, these would be strengthened, or their positions changed under the
direction of engineer officers. The second was, the use made of the telegraph and
signal corps. Nothing could be more complete than the organization and discipline
of this body of brave and intelligent men. Insulated wires — insulated so that
they would transmit messages in a storm, on the ground or under water — were
wound upon reels, making about two hundred pounds of wire to each reel. Two
men and one mule were detailed to each reel. The pack-saddle on which this
was carried was provided with a rack like a sawbuck placed crosswise of the
saddle, and raised above it so that the reel, with its wire, would revolve freely.
There was a wagon supplied with a telegraph operator, battery, and telegraph
instruments for each division, each corps, each army, and one for my headquar-
ters. There were wagons also loaded with light poles, about the size and length
of a wall tent pole, supplied with an iron spike in one end, used to hold the
wires up when laid, so that wagons and artillery would not run over them. The
mules thus loaded were assigned to brigades, and always kept with the command
336 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. they werS assigned to. The operators were also assigned to par-
ticular headquarters, and never changed except by special orders.
The moment the troops were put in position to go into camp all the men con-
nected with this branch of the service would proceed to put up their wires. A
mule loaded with a coil of wire would be led to the rear of the nearest flank of
the brigade he belonged to, and would be led in a line parallel thereto, while
one man would hold an end of the wire and uncoil it as the mule was led off.
When he had walked the length of the wire the whole of it would be on the
ground. This would be done in the rear of every brigade at the same time.
The ends of all the wires would then be joined, making a continuous wire in the
rear of the whole army. The men attached to brigades or divisions would all
commence at once raising the wires with their telegraph poles. This was done by
making a loop in the wire and putting it over the spike and raising the pole to a
perpendicular position. At intervals the wire would be attached to trees, or some
other permanent object, so that one pole was sufficient to a place. In absence of
such a support two poles would have to be used, at intervals, placed at an angle
so as to hold the wire firm in place. While this was being done the telegraph
wagons would take their positions near where the headquarters they belonged to
were to be established, and would connect with the wires. Thus, in a few minutes
longer than it took a mule to walk the length of its coil, telegraphic communica-
tion would be effected between all the headquarters of the army. No orders ever
had to be given to establish the telegraph.
On the afternoon of the 7th, I received news from Washington announcing that
Sherman had probably attacked Johnston that day, and that Butler had reached City
Point safely, and taken it by surprise on the 5th. I had given orders for a move-
ment by the left flank, fearing that Lee might move more rapidly to Richmond
to crush Butler before I could get there.
My order for this movement was as follows :
.Headquarters Armies of the U.S.,
May 7, 1864, 6.30 A.M.
Major-General Meade, Commanding A.P. :
Make all preparations during the day for a night march, to take position at
Spottsylvania Court House with one army corps, at Todd's Farm with one, and
another near the intersection of the Piney Branch and Spottsylvania Road with the
road from Alsop's to Old Court House. If this move is made the trains should
be thrown forward early in the morning to the Ny Ri»er.
I think it would be advisable in making the change to leave Hancock where
he is until Warren passes him. He could then follow and become the right of
the new line. Burnside will move to Piney Branch Church. Sedgewick can
move along the pike to Chancellorsville, and on to his destination. Burnside will
move on the plank-road to the intersection of it with the Orange and Fredericks-
burg plank-road, then follow Sedgewick to his place of destination.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 337
1864. All vehicles should be got out of hearing bf the enemy before the
troops move, and then move off quietly.
It is more than probable that the enemy concentrate for a heavy attack on
Hancock this afternoon. In case they do, we must be prepared to resist them,
and follow up any success we may gain with our whole force. Such a result
would necessarily modify these instructions.
All the hospitals should be moved to-day to Chancellorsville.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
My object in moving to Spottsylvania was twofold : first, I did not want Lee
to get back to Richmond in time to attempt to crush Butler before I could get
there ; second, I wanted to get between his army and Richmond if possible ; and,
if not, to draw him into the open field. But Lee, by accident, beat us to Spottsyl-
vania. Our wagon-trains had been ordered easterly of the roads the troops were
to march upon before the movement commenced. Lee interpreted this as a semi-
retreat of the Army of the Potomac to Fredericksburg, and so informed his gov-
ernment. Accordingly he ordered Longstreet's corps — now commanded by
Anderson — to move in the morning (the 8lh) to Spottsylvania. But the woods
being still gn fire, Anderson could not go into bivouac, and marched directly on to
his destination that night. By this accident Lee got possession of Spottsylvania.
It is impossible to say now what would have been the result if Lee's orders had
been obeyed as given ; but it is certain that we would have been in Spottsylvania,
and between him and his capital. My belief is that there would have been a race
between the two armies to see which could reach Richmond first, and the Army
of the Potomac would have had the shorter line. Thus, twice since crossing the
Rapidan, we came near closing the campaign, so far as battles were concerned,
from the Rapidan to the James River, or Richmond. The first failure was caused
by our not following up the success gained over Hill's corps on the morning of
the 6th, as before described; the second, when fires caused by that battle, drove
Anderson to make a march during the night of the 7th-8th, which he was ordered
to commence on the morning of the 8th. But accident often decides the fate of
battle.
Moved from our position in the centre to the right,
Monday, halting three times to build earthworks. Were placed on
May 9. the skirmish line with the " Bucktails," taking part with
the corps in its grand charge. After dark we again
advanced, driving the enemy back, after which we threw up more
earthworks.
Fifty men of the regiment were detailed for skirmish
Tuesday, jyjy on the brow of a hill in front of Battery D of the
May 10. pjj.|.j^ y_g_ Artillery. The position was uncomfortable,
THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. being swept by the artillery of both armies. Forty men
were detailed to carry ammunition up to the line during
a charge.
During the day an order was received for the brigade to charge ;
and the unusual occurrence happened with our regiment that in that
charge we had no enlisted men, all of them being detailed away,
leaving none but commissioned and non-commissioned oflScers to
obey the order.
We had ten men wounded on the skirmish line. It was a hard
day's work. During the day General Grant and his aids and order-
lies rode up to our line to make observations. While he was intently
watching the battle through his field-glasses a piece of shell struck
the head of one of his orderly's horses, carrying away a portion of it,
causing the horse to plunge madly about, creating a great panic
among the other horses. During it all the general remained as
unconcerned as if nothing had happened, not even removing the
glasses from his eyes.
General Lee made the following report of the doings of the rebel
army:
SPOTTSYLVANrA CoURT-HoUSE, May lO, 1864.
(Via Guiney's, nth. Received 2^.5 P.M.)
Hon. Secretary of War :
General Grant's army is intrenched near this place on both sides of the Brock
Road. Frequent skirmishing occurred yesterday and to-day, each army endeavor-
ing to discover the position of the other. To-day the enemy shelled our lines
and made several assaults with infantry against different points, particularly on our
left, held by Gen. R. H. Anderson. The last, which occurred after sunset, was
the most obstinate, some of the enemy leaping over the breastworks. They
were easily repulsed, except in front of Doles' brigade, where they drove our
men from their position and from a four-gun battery there posted. The men were
soon rallied, and by dark our line was reestablished and the battery recovered. A
large body of the enemy moved around our left on the evening of the gth and
took possession of the road about midway between Shady Grove Church and the
Court-House. General Early, with a part of A. P. Hill's corps, drove them back
this evening, taking one gun and a few prisoners. Thanks to a merciful Provi-
dence our casualties have been small. Among the wounded are Brig.-Gens. H. T.
Hays and H. H. Walker.
R. E. LEE.
(Same to the President and General Bragg.)
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 339
1864. The brigade morning report showed five regiments
Wednesday, ^jfjj ^jjj ^^g ^^^^^ q^j. bj-jgade lost more men yester-
day than any other in the division, but our regiment's
loss was slight.
The Thirteenth had one hundred and seven guns this morning.
We lost one man by the explosion of a shell which landed in our
midst.
We moved into earthworks, near General Warren's headquarters,
during a thunder-storm in the afternoon.
Executive Department, C. S. A.,
Richmond, Va., May 11, 1864.
Gen. R, E. Lee, Spottsylvania Court-House, via Guiney's, Va, :
Hoke's brigade left Petersburg this morning with other troops to effect if pos-
sible a junction with Ransom at Chester. I have been painfully anxious to send
your troops to you, but unaccountable delays have occurred, and we have been
sorely pressed by enemy on south side. Are now threatened by their cavalry on
the Brook turnpike and Westhara Road. I go to look after defence. Will have
supplies attended to at once, and as soon as possible send troops to you. May
God have you in His holy keeping and support your efforts for your country's
cause!
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Near Spottsylvania Court-House,
May II, 1864, 8.15 A.M.
Major-General Meade, Commanding Army of the Potomac :
Send back to Belle Plain every wagon that can be spared, retaining here only
sufficient to move what ammunition and other stores that cannot be carried on
the person. Two days of the present supply of rations should be unloaded to
issue to the men, and ammunition enough to fill all the cartridge-boxes. These
wagons can go back with a small escort, relying on reEnforcements expected to
give them a strong escort back. All the wagons should start back with a heavy
load, say from two thousand five hundred to three thousand five hundred pounds,
the amount depending upon the strength of the team. I would advise also the
sending back to Belle Plain all the reserve artillery. This, however, I leave to
your own discretion. General Burnside will be instructed to send back as an
escort to the wagons all his cavalry, and, if necessary, his division of colored
troops.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General,
340 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. Headquarters Armies of the United States,
Near Spottsylvania' Court-House, May 11, 1864, 8.30 A.M.
Maj.-Gen. H. W. Halleck, Chief of Staff :
We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting. The result to this
time is much in our favor. But our losses have been heavy, as well as those of
the enemy. We have lost to this time eleven general officers, killed, wounded,
and missing, and probably twenty thousand men. I think the loss of the enemy
must be greater, we having taken over four thousand prisoners in battle, while he
has taken but few, except stragglers. I am now sending back to Belle Plain all
my wagons for a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition, and propose to fight
it out on this line if it takes all summer.
The arrival of reenforcements here will be very encouraging to the men, and
I hope they will be sent as fast as possible, and in as great numbers. My object
in having them sent to Belle Plain was to use them as an escort to our supply
train. If it is more convenient to send them out by train to march from the rail-
road to Belle Plain or Fredericksburg, send them so. I am satisfied the enemy
are very shaky, and are only kept up to the mark by the greatest exertions on the
part of their officers, and by keeping them intrenched in every position they take.
Up to this time there is no indication of any portion of Lee's army being de-
tached for the defence of Richmond.
U. S. GRAXT,
Lieutenant- General.
Rainy morning. Were under arms at 3 A.M. At
Thursday, 9 o'clock our brigade was massed with other troops
May 12. in the centre for a grand demonstration. Had two men
wounded in the unsuccessful charge.
About I P.M. we were moved to the left, in the rain and mud, to
support Ricketts' division. The regiment continued on duty all night.
[Circular.]
Headquarters Ar.my of the Potomac,
May 13, 1864.
S jldiers : The moment has arrived when your commanding general feels
authorized to address you in terms of congratulation. For eight days and nights,
almost without intermission, in rain and sunshine, you have been gallantly fighting
a desperate foe, in positions naturally strong, and rendered doubly so by intrench-
ments; you have compelled him to abandon his fortifications on the Rapidan, to
retire and attempt to stop your onward progress, and now he has abandoned the
last intrenched position, so tenaciously held, suffering in all a loss of eighteen guns,
twenty-two colors, and eight thousand prisoners, including two general officers.
Your heroic deeds and noble endurance of fatigue and privations will ever be
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 341
1864. memorable. Let us return thanks to God for the mercy thus shown
us, and ask earnestly for its continuance.
Soldiers, your work is not over, the enemy must be pursued, and, if possible,
overcome. The courage and fortitude you have displayed renders your com-
manding general confident your future efforts will result in success. While we
mourn the loss of many gallant comrades, let us remember the enemy must have
suffered equal, if not greater, losses. We shall soon receive reenforcements
which he can not expect. Let us determine, then, to continue vigorously the
work 50 well begun, and, under God's blessing, in a short time the object of our
labors will be accomplished.
GEO. G. MEADE,
Afajor- General Commanding.
The following is taken from Grant's Memoirs and explains itself :
The criticism has been made by writers on the campaign from the Rapidan to
the James River, that all the loss of life could have been obviated by moving the
army there on transports. Richmond was fortified and intrenched so perfectly
that one man inside to defend was more than equal to five outside besieging or
assaulting. To get possession of Lee's army was the first great object. With the
capture of his army Richmond would necessarily follow. It was better to fight
him outside of his stronghold than in it. If the Army of the Potomac had been
moved bodily to the James River by water, Lee could have moved a part of his
forces back to Richmond, called Beauregard from the south to reenforce it, and
with the balance moved on to Washington. Then, too, I ordered a move simul-
taneous with that of the Army of the Potomac, up the James River by a formi-
dable army already collected at the mouth of the river.
Headquarters, May 12, 1864.
(Received Hanover Junction, 13th.)
Hon. Secretary of War:
This morning at dawn the enemy broke through that part of our line occupied
by Johnson's division and gained possession of a portion of our breastworks,
which he still holds. A number of pieces of artillery fell into his hands. The
engagement has continued all day, and, with the exception indicated, we have
maintained our ground. In the beginning of the action we lost a large number
of prisoners, but, thanks to a merciful Providence, our subsequent casualties were
not large. Major-General Johnson and Brigadier-General Stuart were taken
prisoners. The brave General Perrin was killed, and Generals Walker (of the
Stonewall Brigade) and Daniel severely wounded.
R. E. LEE,
Generiil.
In all the communications of General Lee it will be noticed how
careful he is to keep in touch with the " merciful Providence."
342 THREE TEAB8 IJV THE ARMT.
1864. About 10 A.M. we returned to Cutler's division.
Friday, E,ested three hours and were then sent to the comer of
May 13. ^^^ woods, where we began our " charge " of last Sunday.
Here we strengthened the earthworks, the enemy vigor-
ously shelling us with canister during the operation, but their guns
were too elevated to do us any harm, though they did take effect in
the first division, which was in our rear. Showery all day. At 1 1
P.M. we were marched by a circuitous route for ten miles, across
fields and over fences, until we struck the Bowling Green and
Fredericksburg pike, and so on until daylight, when we halted in
sight and to the south of Spottsylvania Court- House, where the whole
corps was formed en masse. The roads were saturated with water
from the continuous rains, and were so ploughed with the artillery
and baggage-wagons of the retreating foe, that their condition re-
minded us of Bumside's " Mud march."
The following was in answer to an inquiry as to the best man to
succeed General Robinson in the command of our division :
May 13, 1864.
General Meade:
I think General Griffin or General Ayres is the most competent soldier, but
Generals Cutler and Crawford have behaved very handsomely with me. General
Cutler is the only general officer left with me in the old First Corps. General
Robinson behaved well the day he was so severely wounded. He will hardly
ever be fit for duty again,
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
Rained hard all day, making the roads almost impas-
Saturday, sable. Since the 3d we had been marching, fighting.
May 14. and building earthworks so continuously that no oppor-
tunity had been afforded to change any of our cloth-
ing. Our march of last night was made without halting, over very
bad roads, and in darkness so aggravated by the fog as to make it
nearly impossible for one to see the man in front of him. In some
places the mud was nearly knee-deep, but that was not as bad as
though it had been hip-deep. A man of philosophic turn of mind
could always find something to be thankful for in the army.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 343
1864. We were close to the Fredericksburg pike on the south
side, while just across, on the north side of the pike, was
Burnside's corps, and to the left of us was the Sixth Corps.
Our brigade was moved to the north side of the road, but with
that exception we laid quietly in the mud, watching the shells as
they passed over our head, thankful that the fuses were long enough
for them to burst elsewhere than over us.
We remained in the same position all day until 6 P.M.,
Sunday, when we were massed with other troops for a charge
May 15. which, we are happy to say, was not made. It was
therefore a day of rest, as indeed Sunday should be. It
was showery all day.
At noon the sun came out bright and hot, but it
Monday, rained again about dark. At i P.M. we were formed in
May 16. line of battle, but that was all, for the expected charge
was not made. At 5 P.M. we were sent out on the
skirmish line.
We have only two months more to serve, so the less number of
charges we were called upon to make the happier we were.
The last two or three days' rest brightened up the
Tuesday, boys a good deal. We felt a little less like an " armed
May 17. mob " even if we did look it. We were relieved from
the skirmish line about 6 P.M., and then moved to the
right on the flank of Burnside's corps, where we were set to work
building breastworks with the timber which we cut in the woods
about us, and by digging. We worked all night. Though our
brigade contained six regiments it had less than a thousand men.
Spottsylvania Court-House, May 17, 1864.
(Via Guiney's. Received 3.15 A.M., i8th.)
Hon. Secretary of War:
The enemy has made no demonstration against our position to-day. His army
still lies in the valley of the Ny, extending across the road from this place to
Fredericksburg. For some reason there seems to be a pause in his movements.
The army received with joy the news of General Beauregard's success south of
James River, as reported in the papers of to-day.
R. E. LEE.
344 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. Having completed our earthworks we were moved to
Wednesday, ^j^g ^gj^^ ^j ^.j^g brigade, where we were held in reserve.
^^ '^' About 5 A.M. the rebel artillery opened fire on the Ninth
Corps, and as a number of the shells burst in our vicinity
we felt uneasy as to results. As these shells were intended for
the Ninth Corps, it shows how careless the enemy were in their
artillery work. We didn't wish to rob the Ninth Corps of anything
that was intended for it. At 7 A.M. we were moved by the left
flank, about half a mile, to a spot near General Warren's head-
quarters, and laid under a shelling fire until afternoon, when we were
moved to the right again, near the earthworks we built last night.
About II P.M. we moved into the works. Rained in the night,
of course. We noticed during the day that a movement was on
hand ; in fact orders were received for all to be in readiness to move
at a moment's notice.
The changes that occurred in the positions of other
Thursday, corps had left us apparently on the right flank of the
May ig. army instead of adjoining the left flank, as we were
on our arrival at Spottsylvania Court-House. Rained in
the morning, with occasional showers all day.
A detail of twenty-five men and an officer was sent from the regi-
ment to join other troops for duty as skirmishers. About 5 o'clock
an attack was made on this skirmish line, the enemy attempting to
get round on our right, but, falling in with some Union troops on
their way from Fredericksburg, they were repulsed.
Lay quietly in our earthworks all day. Weather hot.
Friday, A congratulatory order to the First Massachusetts Heavy
May 20. Artillery was read to us to-day. It seems that was the
regiment that was doing the fighting yesterday. It was a
regiment of sixteen hundred men, and this was its first fight. They
were on the way from Fredericksburg to the army when they encoun-
tered Rodes' division of Ewell's corps attempting to steal our wagon-
train. The First Maryland, just returning from the furlough granted
it for reenlisting, happened along in the nick of time and also
pitched in.
The Heavy Artillery would have lost less men if they had had more
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 345
1864. experience in fighting, as the men unnecessarily exposed
themselves ; but they did good work nevertheless.
General Orders, )
No. 44. 5 Headquarters Army of Northern Virginia,
May 20, 1864.
The commanding general announces to the army with heartfelt sorrow the
death of Maj.-Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, late commander of the Cavalry Corps of the
Army of Northern Virginia. Among the gallant soldiers who have fallen in this
war. General Stuart was second to none in valor, in zeal, and in unfaltering devo-
tion to his country. His achievements form a conspicuous part of the history of
this army, with which his name and services will be forever associated. To mili-
tary capacity of a high order, and all the nobler virtues of the soldier, he added
the brighter graces of a pure life, guided and sustained by the Christian's faith and
hope. The mysterious hand of an AH- wise God has removed him from the scene
of his usefulness and fame. His grateful countrymen will mourn his loss and
cherish his memory. To his comrades in arms he has left the proud recollection
of his deeds and the inspiring influence of his example.
R. E. LEE,
General.
A change was made to-day in the order of companies
Saturday, in the regimental line, with the following result : G, A, F,
May 21. c, E, D, I, B, H, K. We are now a part of the grand
movement of the army by the left flank. The march of
an army, always inspiring, was to-day a beautiful sight. A cloudless
sky, while the air, filled with the song of birds, was invigorating, and
fragrant with the flowers that were growing luxuriantly in the
meadows and fields. The roads were in perfect condition, and the
boys cheerful, as they viewed the brilliant scenery about them.
The movement began early, our corps following the Second and
Sixth Corps. We abandoned our earthworks, leaving our skirmishers
to take care of themselves j the rebels, moving promptly into our
works, capturing one of our officers and three men. We marched
ten miles, and halted about two miles south of Guiney's Station.
The men we left on the skirmish line reached us later.
Great exertion was made to get the army over Guiney's Bridge,
which crosses the Mattapony River, before the enemy burned the
bridge. This river is formed by the union of the Mat, the Ta, the
Po, and the Ny rivers.
346 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. The officer who was captured was at that time in com-
mand of Company B, and had in his possession two
hundred dollars of that company's money. Foreseeing his inevitable
capture, he secreted the money in the reenforced seat of his trousers,
which he was able to do through a small hole. A cavalryman noticing
he was an officer, pursued and captured him, promptly demanding his
possessions. Whereupon his overcoat was first taken, then the con-
tents of his pockets, his sword, pistol, boots, and hat ; after which he
was sent back to the rebel lines, and subsequently taken to Libby prison.
The officer, appreciating that the money would soon be useless, unless
changed to some place where there was less wear, divided it into two
parts, hiding each part under a shoulder-strap, and thus preserved it.
Some time after the regiment was discharged, he was exchanged and
returned to Boston, and promptly offered to restore the money, but
the company declined to accept it. The officer was originally an en-
listed man in Company D, and after his promotion was assigned to B.
At II A.M. we started for Bull's Church, about ten
Sunday, miles. The day was hot and sultry and the roads dusty.
May aa. The only fun we had was making puns on the name of
the church. It was also known as St. Margaret's Church.
We were under the impression that St. Margaret was generally at-
tended by a dog, so were unable to understand the significance of
calling it Bull's Church.
On our march to-day we were, once, vigorously shelled by the
enemy, who were retreating toward Richmond. A hundred of their
stragglers were captured during the day.
During the last few days we had been marching through
Monday, an open country, attractive in appearance and rich in
May 23. fertility, and showing none of the devastations of war.
All this was an agreeable change from the dense forest
of the " Wilderness."
At 5 A.M. we took up the line of march toward the North
Anna River, catching up with the rear guard of the enemy at a place
called " Old Church," about 9 o'clock. We halted here for some
time, while the cavalry, and a light battery of the Second Corps, passed
along to see what the firing ahead of us meant. About 3 P.M. we
TUIRTEENTU MASS. VOLS. 847
1864. were countermarched, and shortly after took a road to the
left for Jericho Ford, one of the most picturesque spots on
the North Anna River. The division ahead of us forded the river, but
we built a pontoon bridge and crossed dry shod, and thence up the
bluffs, where some of the corps had begun intrenching. We had
hardly crossed when A. P. Hill's corps, formed en masse, made a furi-
ous charge upon our troops. It was now about dusk. For a few
minutes the fighting was terrific, but the enemy was driven back with
heavy loss, in killed, wounded, and prisoners. Our regiment had five
men wounded. The Third and Fifth Massachusetts batteries did gDod
service in this engagement. We were now occupying a piece of woods
from which the enemy had just been driven. As soon as it was dark
we were ordered to lie down on the ground, in line of battle, with: guns
in readiness, at a moment's notice, to continue the fight. We were to
remain absolutely quiet and not to strike a match, even for lighting
a pipe. Not a sound could be heard along the line so perfect was
the stillness. While we were lying there, completely hidden from
sight by the impenetrable darkness of the woods, watching with ears
strained to catch the slightest sound, and eyes struggling to pierce
the gloom, the crackling sound of footsteps was heard, and suddenly
a tall specimen of the Southern chivalry appeared. With gun on his
shoulder and an air of confidence, such as a soldier has when fancy-
ing himself safely within his own lines, he walked up to the very
muzzles of our rifles before being challenged. To his inexpressible
astonishment he received the order to " Aa/i/ " " Who comes
there ? " to which he responded, " Second South Carolina, by Gawd ! "
One of the boys, imitating the tone of his voice, replied, " Well, we're
the Thirteenth Massachusetts, by Gawd ! " At this unexpected salu-
tation, which surprised him as much as if he had been suddenly
challenged by St. Peter, he unclasped his belt and threw it, with his
gun, on the ground, to the great amusement of the boys, who, in spite
of orders to the contrary, could not restrain their laughter. " How
did you like the fight, 'Johnnie'?" was asked by one of the boys.
"Wall, you 'uns fire shell a derned sight worse than we 'uns do."
The necessity for silence prevented our carrying on the conversation
further.
348 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. We were within about forty miles of Richmond, and
learned what was meant by sending a man to Jericho.
Tuesday, The place was called Noel's Station, and was situated
May 24. Qj^ jjjg Virginia Central Railroad. We built earthworks
last night in addition to our other duties, and were 'so
tired out that, notwithstanding the enemy were continually crawling
up through the woods and firing upon us, we could be kept awake
only by the persistent efforts of the officers.
Received congratulatory orders from General Meade for the work
of the corps yesterday.
Remained on the skirmish line all day.
We didn't fail to notice how well marked with bullets were the trees
in front of us. One in particular, at the height of a man's head,
contained a dozen, while many of the branches were completely
severed. We were glad to know that trees were good for something
besides shade.
Moved down the river about two miles to the " Lone
Wednesday, Star Hamlet " or farm, and formed in line of battle, con-
May 25. necting with the Sixth Corps. Threw out a strong Une of
skirmishers, which was under fire all the time. The
twelve men of the Thirteenth who were captured on the 8th instant all
returned to the regiment, having been recaptured by Custer's cavalry
at Beaver Dam. Lucky boys !
A bill of merchandise was picked up by one of our boys, near Bull's
Church, in which was charged two barrels of whiskey at twenty-five
dollars per gallon and tea at eleven dollars per pound. At thirteen
dollars per month it would take thirty days to earn half a gallon of
whiskey. It ought to have been pretty good at that price. A man
couldn't be bit many times by rattlesnakes with whiskey at that price.
Since the 8th, when General Robinson was wounded, our brigade
had been under the immediate command of General Warren, who
directed our movements in addition to his other duties. In the
afternoon, we threw up earthworks, followed by a cracking old
thunder-storm.
Our base of supplies was now the Pamunkey River.
At the house near where we were now located, we noticed a pretty
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 349
1864. girl. It was like a gleam of sunshine on a cloudy day.
As the rest of the family had left, this young maiden had
all the admiration to herself. General Warren placed his head-
quarters in front of this house, thereby cutting off our communication
with it. His appearance suggested the Indian. He was swarthy in
complexion, high cheek-bones, long hair, and a mustache which he
was fond of twirling. There was such a yawning chasm between
thirteen dollars per month and the pay of a major-general that even
our good looks, as compared with his, could not bridge it, so we
left the " Lone Star " maid to his tender consideration.
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
May 25, 1864, 12 M.
Major-General Meade:
I send you now an exact sketch of developments as far as made. I have
found the intrenchments visible on the left and right, and I enclose a report of
General Cutler on the result of his effort to push on in the centre. My line makes
a salient at this point. Sharpshooters are very active. I have my troops in two
lines, and cover a front reaching near to Little River. I cannot extend farther
without making a weak line. I feel satisfied that I should have great difficulty at
best in whipping the enemy in my front. Perhaps if General Wright were to
send a division across Little River we would be able to develop the intrenched
line farther. We can hear wood-chopping south of the river, which just beyond
us bends southward and perhaps forms part of their line. The woods, however
prevent seeing much anywhere. On my right General Griffin has got eight guns
in an enfilading position to the enemy's skirmish line, and will fire pretty soon.
To advance my right carries me over a clear field three-fourths of a mile, with the
enemy intrenched on the other side. General Cutler's report gives you an idea of
the trouble in the centre, and General Crittenden's advance last night shows the
state of things on my left. Do you wish anything further done ?
Respectfully,
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
[Enclosure.]
Headquarters Fourth Division, Fifth Army Corps,
May 25, 1864, 10.45 A.M.
General Warren:
I can't find any way to get at the flank of the enemy's skirmishers. I am of
the opinion that there may be a salient near my centre; the fire at that point is
very galling. I have had two officers and some eighteen to twenty men killed,
and a large number wounded. I have instructed my pickets to get around as
well as they can, and not fire any more than is absolutely necessary.
L. CUTLER,
Brigadier- General.
350 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864.
[First indorsement.]
General Grant:
I should judge from the within that, unless Warren attacks, not much more
can be done in his front.
GEO. G. MEADE,
Major- General.
[Second indorsement.]
I do nut think any attack should be made until preparations are made to use
our whole force. The best Warren can do now is to cover hb men well in their
advanced position, and rest them all he can, ready for active services. If you
think proper to send a division of Wright's force across Little River, do so, but I
think unless there is some reason for it that I do not know, it would be better not
to send them over until the cavalry gets around.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Lay in the works all day until 9 P.M., when we left
Thutsday, them and recrossed the North Anna about two miles
May 26. below Jericho Ford, and then halted about midnight,
near a church, and drew rations, including a ration of
whiskey, after which we took a bath in the river. After an hour's
rest we marched the rest of the night.
We now had with us six days' rations. Marched
Friday, cautiously all day, making a distance of twenty-five miles
May 27. in the last twenty hours. We crossed the Fredericks-
burg Railroad to St. Paul's Church, camping near Mango-
hick, in the woods, at the top of a high hill. A few mor« churches
and the army would have no excuse for staying away from divine
service. We found no whiskey at St. Paul's Church, as we did near
the church where we halted last night. We were now passing through
a country that had seen something of war, — so had we.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
May 27, 1864, 4.15 P.M.
Major-Gene RAL Warren:
Headquarters are at Mangohick Church. The commanding general directs me
to inform you that examinations are now being made that will probably modify
your route from Hebron Church (one mile beyond this), so thxt youvvill move
to Hanovertown instead of New Castle Ferry. Wright is moving by a road thiit
turns off a mile or two back from here and near to the bridge right opposite Mrs.
TIIIRTBENTH MASS. VOLS. 351
1864. Hundley's, in the vicinity of which he will throw a bridge. The
commanding general thinks it better that you should move on as
far as you can until toward evening and go into camp, then resuming the march
as soon after daylight as practicable. Report when you camp.
A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Major-General and Chief of Staff,
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
May 27, 1864, 7.10 P.M.
Major-General Humphreys:
I have two divisions in camp, the third coming up, and the artillery and trains-
following. We camp on Dowell's Creek, about two miles from Mangohick
Church. My headquarters are about two miles from the church, at a house called
Turk's. My flag is on the road. The march has been very severe on men and
animals. I have moved as fast and far as I could to clear the road for General
Burnside. If he be camped five miles behind me he can start at the same hour,.
and not be delayed.
Respectfully,
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
May 27, 1864, 8.30 P.M.
Major-General Warren, Commanding Fifth Corps ;
The major-general commanding directs that you move to-morrow to Hanover-
town, crossing the river, and take position in advance, with your left resting on
the Totopotomoy and your right extending toward Crump's Creek. The map
indicates this position to be beyond Mrs. Via's house.. General Burnside will form
on your right; Hancock next, and Wright on the right, holding the crossing of
Crump's Creek. Upon crossing the river you will relieve General Russell's
division, which will then rejoin its corps.
A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Major-General and Chief of Staff.
Marched at 4 P.M., passing army headquarters at
Saturday, Mangohick Church. There was hope for us all while
May 28. headquarters were near a church. We were now march-
ing through what was known as the Brandywine country,,
and a beautiful country it is, as it ought to be, with such a name.
Crossed the Pamunkey River, not far from Hanovertown, about
noon. The Pamunkey River is formed by the union of the North
and South Anna Rivers. We found the Sixth Corps resting on the
meadows as we reached this point. Crossing a small stream called
352 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. Herring Creek, that flowed over the road, we moved to
the ridge beyond, where we formed in line and built
earthworks. Severe cavalry fighting in front of us. For two days
— being the only ones since we crossed the Rappahannock — we had
not exchanged a shot with the enemy.
As General Grant and his staff was passing he noticed one of the
boys of Company D with his tin cup filled with water. The cup
was old, battered, and greasy, black with constant use in making
coffee, and about as uninviting a piece of tinware as ever was seen.
General Grant halted and asked, " Have you any good water there,
my man? "
" Yes, sir ; I can recommend the water if I can't the cup."
"Oh, that is all right," said Grant, "the water is just as good;"
and he raised the old black coffee cup to his lips and drank as
heartily as though it were a silver goblet.
All doubts of Grant's capacity as a general had disappeared with
the steady onward movement of the army.
Called up at daylight to move, but didn't get away
Sunday, until noon, when we advanced our line about two miles.
May 29. At 6.30 P.M. we marched to the eastward about three
miles, halting at the junction of the White House and
Richmond Roads, where the brigade proceeded to throw up earth-
works to cover the cross-roads, working all night. We were cautioned
about making noise or building fires. On our way to this point we
passed through the small hamlet of " Howells' Store." As one of the
boys remarked, " Howells must be a h — 1 of a man to have a store
named after him."
Some of the boys having discovered a house, a short distance
away, paid it a visit to see what they could find. Having secured a
young pig they were making tracks for the regiment, when they ran
plump into General Wheelock, of the Ninety-seventh New York,
who couldn't speak in a low tone if he tried, and who yelled, " Don't
you know it's against orders to make such d — d noise? " So they
clapped their hands on poor piggy's throat and informed him they
belonged to the Eleventh Pennsylvania, which wasn't true, of course,
and then disappeared.
THIRTEENril MASS. VOLS. 363
1864. Our division, which was broken up and the brigades
Monday, temporarily distributed among other divisions when
General Robinson was wounded, was reorganized under
General Lockwood. It was a welcome sight to again see
bur old division flag at the head of our column.
About 8 o'clock in the morning we returned to the place we
left yesterday, and laid quiet until 4 P.M., when we moved forward
and formed line in a ploughed field, on the opposite side of which
was a piece of woods. General Warren made his appearance and
immediately gave an order for the brigade to move forward through
the woods. He seemed to think the urgency of the occasion great,
as he called on "Helen Damnation" as if she could render assist-
ance were she so disposed. You might call on " Father Mars " until
the cows came home without inspiring soldiers to fight ; but the
moment Helen's name was heard things began to move. Helen was
a first-class goddess, and had much to do with the fortunes of the
Army of the Potomac.
We moved as ordered, through the woods, and connected our line
witji that of the Pennsylvania Reserves on our right, and built earth-
works during the night.
Remained in earthworks all day. Heavy firing heard
Tuesday, on the right in the forenoon, and on the left in the after-
May 31. noon, at Cold Harbor, between Sheridan's cavalry and
the enemy.
Our brigade was now on the left flank of the army.
We were in a sandy country, where the sand was so light that it
seemed impossible to keep it out of our shoes or haversacks.
The following itinerary from the report of General Warren shows
the doings of the Fifth Corps from the time it crossed the Rapidan
to May 31st :
Jlfay ^, — Corps left Culpeper at midnight ; crossed the Rapidan
at Germanna Ford, and bivouacked near Wilderness Tavern.
JIfay J. — Attacked Ewell's corps with Griffin's, Wadsworth's, and
part of Crawford's divisions ; afterward attacked Hill's corps with
Wadsworth's division ; fought until dark.
May 6. — Commenced fighting again at 4.30 A.M.; fought all
354 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. day; General Wadsworth killed and General Baxter
wounded.
May 7. — Took the advance at dark; marched all night toward
Spottsylvania Court- House.
May 8. — Met Longstreet's corps in the morning near that place ;
fought all the rest of the day, encountering part of Ewell's corps just
at dark ; General Robinson severely wounded.
May g. — Drove the enemy into his intrenched line.
May 10. — Vigorously assaulted enemy's position in conjunction
with Second Corps.
May J 2. — Repeated assault on enemy alone at the same place as
on the loth. General Ay res marched to left to support Second
Corps in afternoon ; marched back during the night in the rain.
May ij. — Constructed line of breastworks to contract our lines;
worked all day ; marched all night in the rain around the rear of our
army to attack the enemy at daybreak on the 14th. Remained in
front of the enemy at Spottsylvania Court-House, skirmishing daily
until May 21, part of the corps taking an important part in the battle
of May I 7.
May 21. — Left enemy's front at noon ; crossed the Po River at
Guiney's Bridge ; the advance crossed the Ta River at Madison's
Ordinary.
May 22. — Followed along the Telegraph Road, fighting his
cavalry ; bivouacked at Dr. Flippo's.
May 23. — Crossed North Anna at Jericho Mills, and fought Hill's
corps on south side.
May 24. — Pushed out to the Virginia Central Railroad, and
down the river to connect with the Ninth Corps.
May 2j. — Drove the enemy into his intrenched lines, developing
their location.
May 26. — At dark recrossed the North Anna at Quarles' Mills in
the rain ; marched all night.
May 2j. — Marched all day, proceeding via Mount Carmel Church
and St. Paul's Church, bivouacking two miles from Mangohick Church.
May 28. — Crossed the Pamunkey at Hanovertown, and encamped
near Brockenbrough's house.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 355
1864. May 2g. — Moved to Norman's house.
May 30. —^ Moved to Via's house, south of Totopo-
tomoy Creek, and had a skirmish with enemy.
May ji. — Was engaged with the enemy at and near Bethesda
Church, on the Mechanicsville Road to Richmond.
356 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
CHAPTER XVII.
1864. Twenty-seven days had passed since we crossed the
Rapidan under the leadership of General Grant. During
this time we had received a new experience in warfare. The ordi-
nary duties of camp life, such as drilling, guard- mounting, etc., had
disappeared, and in their place were marching, digging, and fighting,
getting sleep as best we could. It seemed a grand hustle to see
which army would get to Richmond first, keeping us busy all the
time. Yet, to some of us, it didn't seem so hard a campaign as
either Manassas or Gettysburg, or even Chancellorsville. The ra-
tions were issued regularly ; our marches were not, as a rule, long ;
we had earthworks to fall back into, and were well supported by
other troops, and our position in battle frequently changed. No
matter how hard the fighting, or doubtful the result, we moved
onward as resistless as the car of Juggernaut. The Army of the
Potomac having been unaccustomed to the sunshine of victory,
rejoiced at the change and became buoyant with hope. The dis-
couragement that hitherto attended us vanished as our confidence
in Grant increased. Fears for the safety of Washington — the
skeleton that, hitherto, haunted the closet of our army — seemed
to have been eliminated from Grant's plan. There was one draw-
back to our confidence in General Grant, and that was his occasional
appearance on the skirmish line at times when it was very danger-
ous. It was running too great a risk, and our apprehensions were
■ often very much excited at his apparent insensibility to the peril
of his position.
Now that we had only forty-seven days more to serve we found it
a good deal harder to respond when the order waa given to " charge,"
and were glad enough when a day passed without our being called
upon for that disagreeable duty.
MAP N«? 17
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 357
1864. About 8 A.M. we left the earthworks, advancing our
Wednesday, jjj^g about a mile, swinging forward the left of our
division across the road leading to Bethesda Church,
during which operation we were vigorously shelled by
the enemy. We had two men wounded, one fatally.
At dusk, just as we had completed our earthworks, our division
was moved to the left, connecting with the Eighteenth Corps which
had been fighting all the afternoon. Began another line of earth-
works which took us nearly all night to complete. As we were in a
very exposed position, we had to work as silently as possible.
Some of the boys, with irrepressible curiosity, stepped into a house
near the church, to learn the cause of the excitement that seemed
to prevail inside. It was indeed a sight to see. When the rebels
retreated the occupants, having no faith in the chivalry of the North,
followed suit. What furniture they couldn't take with them, they
destroyed. Fine mirrors lay shattered on the floor, carpets torn up,
dishes, chairs, and other articles of furniture were smashed and
lying about in bewildering confusion. Notwithstanding its remote-
ness from the water, the occupant appeared to have been a mariner
of some sort by the sails and seines which were found in the base-
ment, while in the parlor, as if to confirm the impression, hung a
marine painting showing a schooner under sail flying the stars and
stripes.
While the boys were taking notice of this scene of destruction
they observed a soldier pulling down one of the painted curtains,
and upon inquiry as to what purpose it could be used, he re-
marked that having no rubber blanket the curtain would "just
be a bully thing."
At daylight we were saluted with a shower of bullets
Thursday, from the rebel skirmish line, which was very near.
June 2. Our earthworks afforded us excellent protection, while
we remained in them. The skirmishers soon advanced
and drove the enemy from their trenches, and hot work it was for
a short time.
About noon we vacated the earthworks, which were at once occu-
pied by artillery. The regiment was then moved to the left, form-
358 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. ing on the left of Du Shane's Maryland Brigade, to pro-
tect a gap in the line.
General Lockwood, our division commander, was relieved by
General Crawford to-day.
We were well ducked by heavy showers during the afternoon and
night.
The following extracts from the War Records will be very interest-
ing reading to the Thirteenth :
JXJNE 1, 1864.
Major-Gen ERAL Meade :
General Griffin repulsed the attack on him to-night, which was no more than a
strong feeler. The Cold Harbor Road is not open, and I have been able to make
no impression on the enemy. A very large field intervenes just beyond the forks
of the road commanded by the enemy's batteries. I directed General Lockwood
to extend well to the left with a line of skirmishers, and to prepare his whole
division for an attack in conjunction with Wright and Smith. I thinned my line
down to the least possible amount to get two brigades in reserve to support him,
but in some unaccountable way he took his whole division, without my knowing
it, away from the left of the line of battle, and turned up at dark two miles in my
rear, and I have not yet got him back. All this time the firing should have
guided him at least. He is too incompetent, and too high rank leaves no sub-
ordinate place for him. I earnestly beg that he may be at once relieved from duty
with this army. Major Roebling has not yet returned.
Respectfully,
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
Special Orders, "1
No. 26. J Headquarters Armies of the United States,
Bethesda Church, Va., June 2, 1864.
I. Brig.-Gen. H. H. Lockwood is hereby relieved from duty with the
Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, and will proceed to Baltimoi-e, Md., and
await further orders, reporting by letter to the Adjutant-General of the Army.
By command of Lieutenant-General Grant,
T. S. BOWERS,
Assistant Adjutant- General. «
Baltimore, Md., June 10, 1864.
Brig.-Gen. S. Williams, Army of the Potomac :
Dear Sir : A certain penny-a-liner of the " New York Herald," writing from the
headquarters of the Fifth Army Corps, having recently said that my removal from
the Army of the Potomac arose from an error on my part in opening the lines,
and thus exposing my division to capture, and the whole line to loss, I feel it a
duty to myself to let you and my friends near you into the facts of the case. You
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 359
1864. must pardon me this letter, which shall be as short as possible, and
which I address to you because you expressed concern at my abrupt
and most unjust removal. On the afternoon of the 1st instant my division occupied
the extreme left of the main line, neither Smith nor Wright connecting with me.
General Warren ordered a strong line of skirmishers to be extended from my left
some one-third or one-half mile. This was done. Afterward he ordered that
these skirmishers, together with those in my front, should feel the enemy by ad-
vancing the left, turning on the right as a pivot. Some delay took place in
effecting this. To hasten this, and to be able to report its successful execution,
I went in person at 4 P.M. toward the left of this extended line of skirmishers.
During my absence an order came from General Warren to my flag, in these
words, which I beg of you to note as having an important bearing on this unfor-
tunate issue, unfortunate at least to me :
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
June I, 1864, 5 P.M.
Brigadier-General Lockwood, Commanding Second Division ;
Wright is engaging the enemy on your left up the Cold Harbor Road. Ad-
vance your entire command along this road, and take part in the action if oppor-
tunity offers. A division will support you.
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
I arrived at my flag at 6 P.M., when this note was handed to me by one of my
aides-de-camp, who remarked that General Warren had been over in person; was
very impatient and very angry, and had used some harsh language respecting me.
I immediately mounted my horse, led my reserve up to the main line, put the
whole in motion by the left flank, sending one brigade, which was bent somewhat
to the rear, by a nearer route to join me up the road a half mile distant, the road here
running nearly parallel to the line, distant two hundred yards. I led the rest o£
the division up, and, as I interpreted it, " along " the Cold Harbor Road, at great
peril to myself and ofEcers, and reached the desired point in the direction of the
action then raging between Wright and the enemy about sunset. The detached
brigade was there before me. Here I met Major Roebling, of Warren's staff,
with some four hundred of my men, who had been reconnoitering the ground.
He said he had an admirable position for my left beyond the road, and had al-
ready posted the four hundred men and a portion of the detached brigade upon
it, and would advise my filling out the line by another brigade, leaving one brigade
in the road, whose left would reach to the left of my former position. I acceded
to this and posted my men accordingly, by directing them to keep quiet and in-
trench. Feeling sure that the enemy had not observed us or our change of posi-
tion, skirmishers were thrown out and a double line sent to occupy or cover our
former position.
Supperless and blanketless I laid down on the ground at the angle made by
360 rilREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. those in the field with those in the road and passed the night. The
contest with Wright had now well-nigh ceased, the firing being con-
fined to pickets apparently beyond my left. Rising at daybreak I found my line
well covered, and myself saluted by a. shower of balls from sharpshooters in a
thicket near my front. These my skirmishers soon dispersed, gaining possession
of the thicket. Regarding my position a good one and safe, my left secured by
the issue of Wright's contest, as well as by a swamp near it on which it rested,
and which I had covered by a double line of skirmishers, coimecting my right
with Cutler's left, I retired to a small house two hundred yards up the road and
raised my flag. Soon after this Major Roebling again came up and agreed with
me as to the advantages of my position, claiming for himself the merit of select-
inj; it. I remarked that I was sorry to inform him that General Warren differed
from us as to its merits; that one of my staff missing me passed a portion of the
night at General Warren's headquarters ; that the general denounced the move-
ment as not contemplated by his orders, declared we would be captured or cut to
pieces and bring on a general engagement; and further, that he had made use of
very harsh and damning language respecting me personally.
I said further to the major that this must cease, as I would not permit General
Warren or any other general to abuse me in the presence of ray staff. The major
replied that if I had anything to say of General Warren I should say it to General
Warren himself. I replied that I certainly would call on General Warren and
say as much or more to him. The major then left, and I presume returned to
corps headquarters. One hour later I received an order relieving me from the
command, with orders to report to General Grant, and later in the day an order
from General Grant directing me to proceed to Baltimore, there await further
orders, and report to the Adjutant-General United States Army. Now, general, what
I have related is the sura and substance of this difficulty, and the facts herein given
can be sworn to by a multitude of witnesses. The order was seen and read by
Colonel Bates, commanding brigade, and by some of my own and Warren's staff.
We all agreed that by the words " move along the Cold Harbot Road and take
part in the action " was intended that we should move up that road toward the
point where Wright was engaged.
Had I done otherwise I would have laid myself open to the imputation of fear-
ing to meet the enemy with my five thousand men and as many more at my [com-
mand] to support them. Knowing that General Warren had a spare force near
him, I took it for granted that he would look out for that unlucky gap. But to
avoid all difficulty I took the precaution of covering it with a double line of skir-
mishers advantageously posted, and connecting my right with Cutler's left I
innocently believed that I was faithfully carrying out Warren's orders, had suc-
cessfully flanked a battery, would be commended by my chief, aftd perhaps get
another star. But alas, how foolish are the imaginations of man ! how vain his
expectations ! I declare I never was more astonished than when I heard from an
officer, who had passed part of the night at corps headquarters, that General
Warren disapproved the proceedings, and meant, when he wrote I should " move
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 361
1864. along the road," that I should move up the road, remaining parallel
to and abreast of my former position.
Of course this removal damages me in public opinion, and its effects on my
future career are irreparable, as no other corps commander vrill care to have a
division commander sent to him \chom so skilful and able a corps commander as
Major-General Warren had rejected for exceeding his orders, endangering his
own men, and almost bringing on a general engagement without orders. I see no
remedy. The public press is closed to me both by general orders and by my own
sense of propriety. As a good patriot I must suffer, but I am desirous that you.
General Meade, Major Michler, and some others whom I have regarded as my
friends, ready to hear reason, should know the truth and be thereby enabled to
form a just appreciation of this case.
■I have the honor to be, general, very truly, and respectfully, your obedient and
obliging servant,
HENRY H. LOCKWOOD,
Brigadier- General of Volunteers.
Rainy; built a line of earthworks with traverses.
Friday, Shelling Continued during the day.
June 3. Out of twenty-one men detailed from the regiment for
duty on the skirmish line, we had one man killed, an
officer and five men wounded, and two taken prisoners.
General Meade:
Headquarters Fiffh Army Corps,
Bethesda Church, June 3, 1864, 9 A.M.
We have forced the enemy back still farther on the road to Shady Grove, but I
have all my troops in one line. I cannot maintain the battle this way all day
without reenforcements. Can I withdraw them, if necessary, from my own left
without jeopardizing the operations to the left of me ? I have no way of j udging
of the force of the ^nemy except by the extent of his front, which is very great,
and by the prisoners we have taken, which are from all three of Lee's old corps.
They probably have not all the force this last would indicate. The right of my
corps is now over on the Shady Grove Road, and General Burnside is preparing to
move down the road toward Mechanicsville, toward the position he left yesterday.
Respectfully,
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
June 3, 1864, 9-3° A.M.
General Meade:
I have written you every little while, and sent to you the substance of General
Burnside's and my operations. We have been fighting hard on our right, and are
362 THREE TEARS IN THE ABMT.
1864. getting the enemy back, which will eventually shorten our lines and
make more troops available for assault. While we attacked from
our right, the enemy assaulted my right centre, but were repulsed. I am not
waiting for anybody, but putting in whenever I can judiciously.
Respectfully,
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
Near Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, 7 A.M.
Major-General Meade, Commanding Army of the Potomac :
The moment it becomes certain that an assault cannot succeed, suspend the
offensive ; but when one does succeed push it vigorously, and if necessary pile in
troops at the successful point from wherever they can be taken. I shall go to
where you are in the course of an hour.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutena nt- General,
Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, 12.30 P.M.
Major-General Meade, Commanding Army of the Potomac :
The opinion of corps commanders not being sanguine of success in case an
assault is ordered, you may direct a suspension of farther advance for the present.
Hold our most advanced positions, and strengthen them. Whilst on the defen-
sive, our line may be contracted from the right, if practicable. Reconnaissances
should be made in front of every corps, and advances made to advantageous
positions by regular approaches. To aid the expedition under General Hunter it
is necessary that we should detain all the army now with Lee until the former gets
well on his way to Lynchburg. To do this effectually it will be better to keep the
enemy out of the intrenchments of Richmond than to have them go back there.
Wright and Hancock should be ready to assault in case the enemy should break
through General Smith's lines, and all should be ready to resist an assault.
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
A hot day until about 4 P.M. when it began to rain
Saturday, and continued all night.
June 4. About noon we left our earthworks and rejoined our
brigade which we found held in reserve. Skirmish firing
all along the line at night.
We had a whiskey ration issued to us to-day. " Down with rum ! "
One man wounded to-day.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 363
1864. Rained until noon. About 3 A.M. we were turned
Sunday, ^^j. j.^ jg^j^g possession of the earthworks vacated by part
"' of the second brigade of our division. Laid still all day
with no fighting except on the skirmish line.
About 8 P.M. we were cautiously and very quietly withdrawn
from the earthworks and made a rapid march to Cold Harbor, leav-
ing our skirmish line in position for three or four hours after we left.
The march was about five miles. Bivouacked at i A.M. in the rear
of the Second Corps.
Headquarters Armies of the United States,
Cold Harbor, Va., June 5, 1864.
Major-General Halleck, Chief of Staff of the Army , Washington, D.C. .
General : A full survey of all the ground satisfies me that it would not be
practicable to hold a line north-east of Richmond that would protect the Freder-
icksburg Railroad, to enable us to use it for supplying the army. To do so would
give us a long vulnerable line of road to protect, exhausting much of our strength
in guarding it, and would leave open to the enemy all of his lines of communica-
tion on the south side of the James. My idea from the start has been to beat
Lee's army, if possible, north of Richmond; then, after destroying his lines of
communication north of the James River, to transfer the army to the south side
and besiege Lee in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat. I now
find, after more than thirty days of trial, that the enemy deems it of the first
importance to run no risks with the armies they now have. They act purely on
the defensive, behind breastworks, or feebly on the offensive immediately in front
of them, and where in case of repulse they can instantly retir,e behind them.
Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to make, all cannot be
accomplished that I had designed outside of the city. I have, therefore, resolved
upon the following plan : I will continue to hold substantially the ground now
occupied by the Army of the Potomac, taking advantage of any favorable circum-
stance that may present itself, until the cavalry can be sent west to destroy the
Virginia Central Railroad from about Beaver Dam for some twenty-five or thirty
miles west. When this is effected, I will move the army to the south side of
James River, either by crossing the Chickahominy and marching near to City
Point, or by going to the mouth of the Chickahominy on the north side and
crossing there. To provide for this last and most probable contingency six or
more ferry-boats of the largest class ought to be immediately provided. Once on
the south side of the James River I can cut off all sources of supply to the enemy,
except what is furnished by the canal. If Hunter succeeds in reaching Lynch-
burgh that will be lost to him also. Should Hunter not succeed I will still make
the effort to destroy the canal by sending cavalry up the south side of the river
with A pontoon train to cross wherever they can. The feeling of the two armies
364 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. now seems to be that the rebels can protect themselves only by
strong intrenchments, while our army is not only confident of pro-
tecting itself without intrenchments, but that it can beat and drive the enemy
wherever and whenever he can be found without this protection.
Very respectfully,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
Our position, we found at daylight, to be on the top of
Monday, a hill half a mile in the rear of the earthworks at Cold
June 6. Harbor, where fighting still continued. Our corps was
held in reserve. Clothing, shoes, etc., were issued to us,
all of which articles we were in much need of. Have been under
fire every day but two since May 4th. During this time the army
had acquired, as already stated, a well-established faith in General
Grant. No matter what happened we moved forward. No back-
ward steps were taken, — an experience to which the Army of the
Potomac had, heretofore, been unused to. The consequence was
that the "Old Man" (as General Grant was called) was always
greeted with genuine enthusiasm, though he didn't seem to care
much for it. In his old blouse and hat he appeard like the rest
of us — ragged and dirty. Once, when we passed him, he sat on a
platform-car gnawing away on an old ham bone ; as the boys cheered
him he merely gave the bone a flourish for a second, and then went
on gnawing it as though we were miles away. It was wonderful
how thoroughly this retiring, undemonstrative man had gained the
confidence of the army. In spite of the hard work we had been
having, the men were in good spirits, pleased that we were at last
accomplishing something.
Our wagons reached us to-day, affording the officers an oppor-
tunity to pitch their tents, which they had not done since the 3d
of May. The books and papers of the regiment were overhauled
and records made of our work during their absence.
We received an order transferring our regiment from the Second
to the Third Division of the Fifth Corps.
For the ten companies of the regiment we had only four line
officers on duty.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 365
1864. We remained in camp at this place, within eight miles
of Richmond, until June nth. Artillery firing was kept
up most of the time, and on one occasion all night. A soldier be-
comes so accustomed to this thing that he is rarely disturbed.
Leary's House, June 6, 1864, 4.30 A.M.
Major-tGeneral Humphreys:
The head of my last division is just coming into camp. We have been in the
rear of the column on the road all night, and I stayed there to see what would
be done by the' enemy. They made a considerable demonstration by yelling and
firing about 9.30 P.M., and disconcerted us a little. It is almost useless, I think,
to attempt marching these dark nights, unless it is for the mere object of safely
retiring from a position. It was 3 A.M. before the rear of my column got on the
way, and it was so on all our previous efforts. The road was good, but narrow
and through forests. The men being unacquainted with the roads, on all descents
step out just as one does in a strange house when they go down-stairs. It is un-
avoidable, the inclination to feel before planting the foot, and the frequent tum-
bles they get off of banks and other places makes them do it in spite of every effort
of their officers ; then, too, in the night an officer cannot be distinguished, nor
those who disobey him, so that practically an army on one of these dark nights
marches a little better than the crowd that walks the streets, as far as organiza-
tion is concerned. The men never march well except on a retreat, when they are
all hurried forward with the common instinct of fear. The consequence, besides,
of this is that the men are unfitted to-day to do the work they may be called upon.
I find shoes have arrived and will be issued this morning. They are greatly
needed.
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
June 6, 1864, 1° A.M.
Major-General Humphreys, Chief of Staff :
General ; I believe if I should remain here to-night I could get up the bag-
gage wagons of the corps, sort out that of the killed and wounded officers, let
those remaining change their clothes, and dispense with half our baggage wagons
for use in other ways. Will I be here long enough to effect this ?
G. K. WARREN,
Major- General.
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
June 6, 1864, 10 A.M.
Major-General Warren, Commanding Fifth Corps :
I am unable to say authoritatively whether you will remain here to-day and
366 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. to-night or not, but I am under the impression you will, and that
it would be worth while to undertake what you mention.
A. A. HUMPHREYS,
Major- General and Chief of Staff.
In a communication received from corps headquarters
Thursday, respecting the order of march, etc., appears the following
•' paragraph :
Great detention of the whole column, especially on night marches,
has arisen from the indisposition of the troops to cross small streams and the
shallow swamps with which the country abounds, except in single file. No stream
or like obstruction, that does not wet their cartridge-boxes, must detain the
soldiers of this corps for a moment. Brigade commanders will station a staff
officer at such points, who will see that each regiment marches without halting.
We may have acquired a great fondness for the external use of
water, but we found it difficult to overcome our natural prejudice
against wet feet ; hence this order to prevent men hesitating when
coming to a stream.
The rest and sleep allowed the men since the 6th
Friday, did good service. On the 7th our old friends of the
June 10. Ninth New York (Eighty-third Volunteers) started for
home, their term of enlistment having expired. We
had^ been together a long time and their departure was like the sep-
aration of old friends. In bidding " good-by" we couldn't repress
the feeling of gladness we felt for them at their good luck and the
hope that we might soon meet again, as our own time of return
was drawing nigh and already near enough for us to begin counting
the days. This excellent regiment took back only one hundred and
fifiy men.
Yesterday we were treated to a new experience. A correspondent
of the " Philadelphia Inquirer," who had written some libellous letters
against General Meade, was escorted through the army by a Provost
Marshal's guard, his back ornamented with a board on which was
plainly printed, "Libeller of the Press." His appearance
afforded us a good deal of amusement, in spite of the probable
misery of his feelings.
On June 10, 1864, an order was received that no bass drums
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 367
1864. would longer be tolerated, and brigade inspectors were
instructed to see that they were properly disposed of.
Exit bass drum.
" The man that hath no music in himself,
Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils,"
saith the poet. There were no tears shed in the army at this depri-
vation. As long as rations were issued regularly, with an occasional
noggin of whiskey, we could spare all the drums.
Marched at 5 A.M. to Bottom Church, otherwise
Saturday, v called " Shokoe Hill Church," a distance of eight miles.
June II. This place is about three miles from Bottom Bridge on
the Chickahominy River. We camped on the ground
occupied by McClellan's troops in 1862, — a fine grassy spot with
splendid water. Some of McClellan's old tent poles were still to be
seen lying about.
It will be seen by the following communications that the " rebs "
were getting nervous. Their affairs did not appear to be running
with the same smoothness they did before Grant took command.
They were beginning to realize that to fight a man who has " no
strategy " and who is only a " butcher " requires more intelligence
than they hitherto had suspected :
June ii, 1864.
General Beauregard, Commanding:
General : I am so much disturbed about our condition, but especially about
our relations to Petersburg, that you must excuse me for a suggestion. It seems
to me that there is but one way to save the country and bring the authorities to
their senses, and that is to say, " I cannot guard Bermuda Hundred and Peters-
burg both, with my present forces. I have decided that Petersburg is the impor-
tant point, and will withdraw my whole command to that place to-night." It is
arrant nonsense for Lee to say that Grant can't make a night march without his
knowing it. Has not Grant slipped around- him four times already ? Did not
Burnside retire from Fredericksburg, and Hooker from the Wilderness, without
his knowing it ? G*-ant can get ten thousand or twenty thousand men to West-
over and Lee know nothing of it. What, then, is to become of Petersburg? Its
loss surely involves that of Richmond, perhaps of the Confederacy. An earnest
appeal is called for now, else a terrible disaster may, and I think will, befall us.
Very respectfully,
D. H. HILL,
Major- General and Aide-de-Camp.
368 THREE YEARS IN THE AHMT.
1864. [Indorsement.]
Swift Creek, Va., June 12, 1864.
General Hill:
I fully concur in the above views, which have been already communicated to
the Government in substance if not in words. I consider it useless again to do
so, as it would produce no good results, and my records are already " all right."
I shall continue to hold " the lines " as long as there is the slightest hope of being
able to do so with success and without endangering Petersburg.
G. T. BEAUREGARD.
Headquarters Armies of the United States,
Cold Harbor, Va., June 11, 1864.
Maj.-Gen. B. F. Butler, Comdg. Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina:
General : The movement to transfer this army to the south side of James River
will commence after dark to-morrow night. Colonel Corastock, of my staff, was
sent specially to ascertain what was necessary to make your position secure in the
interval, during which the enemy might use most of his force against you, and
also to ascertain what point on the river we should reach to effect a crossing, if it
should not be practicable to reach this side of the river at Bermuda Hundred.
Colonel Comstock has not yet returned, so that I cannot make instructions as
definite as I would wish, but the time between this and Sunday night being so
short in which to get word to you, I must do the best I can.
Colonel Dent goes to make arrangements for gun-boats and transportation to
send up the Chickahominy to take to you the Eighteenth Corps. This corps will
leave its position in the trenches as early in the evening to-morrow as possible,
and make a forced march to Cole's Landing or Ferry, where it should reach by
10 A.M. the following morning. This corps numbers now fifteen thousand three
hundred men. They take with them neither wagons nor artillery, these latter
marching with the balance of the army to the James River. The remainder of the
army will cross the Chickahominy at Long Bridge and at Jones' and strike the
river at the most practicable crossing below City Point. I directed several days
ago that all reenforcements for the army should be sent to you. I am not advised
of the number that may have gone, but suppose you have received from six
thousand to ten thousand. General Smith will also reach you as soon as the
enemy could going by the way of Richmond. The balance of the force will not
be more than one day behind, unless detained by the whole of Lee's army, in
which case you will be strong enough.
I wish you to direct the proper staff officers, your chief engineer and chief
quartermaster, to commence at once the collection of all the means in their reach
for crossing the army on.its arrival. If there is a point below City Point where a
pontoon bridge can be thrown, have it laid. Expecting the arrival of the Eigh-
teenth Corps by Monday night, if you deem it practicable from the force you now
have to seize and hold Petersburg, you may prepare to start on arrival of troops
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 369
1864. to hold your present lines. I do not want Petersburg visited, how-
ever, unless it is held, nor an attempt to take it unless you feel a
reasonable degree of confidence of success. If you should go there, I think troops
should take nothing with them except what they carry, depending upon supplies
being sent after the place is secured. If Colonel Dent sliould not succeed in
securing the requisite amount of transportation for the Eighteenth Corps before
reaching you, please have the. balance supplied.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
P.S. — On reflection, I will send the Eighteenth Corps by way of White House.
The distance which they will have to march will be enough shorter to enable
them to reach you about the same time, and the uncertainty of navigation on the
Chickahorainy will be avoided.
U. S. G.
Remained undisturbed until 5 P.M., when the whole
Sunday, army was put in motion. With frequent delays we
June 12. inarched to the Chickahominy, where we waited for two
hours until a pontoon bridge across the river was com-
pleted. At 3 A.M. we crossed the river behind Wilson's cavalry,
continuing the march.
Our base of supplies had been changed to the Chickahominy.
A pontoon boat that was in use by the army at this time was a
more substantial affair than might be supposed by a person who had
never seen one. It was strong and serviceable, often very heavy,
and was carted along on wheels. On arriving at a river it was slid
off into the water, rowed out to its position, and made stationary by
anchors and ropes attached to either end. Timbers were then laid
from boat to boat, with the planks on top firmly lashed together with
ropes. When used as a permanent crossing, where it was of consider-
able length, signals were adopted in the night to prevent the confusion
that might arise if two teams met while crossing, as there was room for
only a single file. A box containing a lantern was placed at each end
of the bridge to signal the sentry at the opposite end before a team
was allowed to cross. When pursued by the enemy, without time to
remove it altogether, the anchors were taken up and one end of the
bridge detached from the shore, when the remainder would swing
870 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. round with the current to the opposite side of the bank,
where it could be taken up at leisure.
Monday, After crossing the river this morning we marched up
June 13. stream about three miles, and then halted for awhile.
The cavalry becoming engaged, our division advanced
to their support. The place where they were fighting was White
Oak Swamp, the same ground on which McClellan fought the battle
of that name in 1862. The debris of the old battle still remained
scattered about the field.
It was not intended to bring on a battle at this point, but only to
cover and protect the roads. The skirmishers of our division suf-
fered severely, though we escaped with the loss of one man who was
wounded.
In the afternoon we changed front to the left, and in company
with the Thirty-ninth threw up earthworks on the left of the second
brigade, subsequently putting out skirmishers.
Two rebel skirmishers strayed from their lines up to ours, asking
where their line was. One of our boys answered them, and in they
came, supposing we were their own troops. They proved to be
North Carolina men of Hill's corps which was in front of us.
We became warmly engaged with the enemy until darkness put a
stop to the firing. About 9 P.M. we were withdrawn and marched
to St. Mary's Church, passing the " Iron Brigade," which was resting
on the side of the road near the church. We took the right-hand
road, and after marching an hour or so we found ourselves again pass-
ing the same brigade in the same position near the church, where,
this time, we met " Helen Damnation." We were too tired to appreci-
ate the explanation of this movement, but passed along, taking the
left-hand road, this time proceeding on to Charles City Court- House,
where we halted at 3 A.M., having caught up with our division.
At half-past five o'clock we started again, marching
Tuesday, about six miles across swamps and fields, and again
June 14. halted about a mile from Charles City Court-House,
where was located the army headquarters.
The movements of the Fifth Corps during the last three days, we
subsequently learned, were a feint intended to deceive the enemy
THIRTEENTB MASS. VOLS. 371
1864. into believing that the army was advancing on Richmond,
while in fact it was marching to the James River, where
it crossed, and which was about four miles from our present position.
We remained quiet all day. Drew rations, which were
>Wednesday, brought to us via the James River, our new base of
June 15. supplies.
We were treated to a genuine surprise to-day. When
we left Boston we had as fine a set of twenty-five wagons as could be
found, all labelled "Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment." From
time to time reductions were made, until the number was reduced to
our present allowance of one wagon. When we saw these wagons
of ours, now engaged in hauling some general's baggage, it grieved
us to see them put to such a use, instead of the more noble one of
carrying the effects of the rank and file.
At 3 A.M. we marched to the James River, passing
Thursday, through Charles City Court-House, now only a town of
June 16. chimney-stacks, the houses having been destroyed during
McClellan's campaign of 1862.
When our eyes beheld the James River, it seemed to many of us
as though we had never seen a picture of greater beauty. Nature
was in her loveliest garb. Vessels were moving about in the calm,
blue water of the river, while on either side of the two pontoon
bridges, two thousand two hundred feet in length, were stationed
gunboats in close proximity, anchored for protection. On the bluffs
overlooking the river could be seen the stately colonial mansions of
wealthy planters, commanding noble views up and down the river.
If one was to pick out a spot on which to dwell, where could be
found a place of such surpassing loveliness?
We crossed the river from Wilcox Ferry to Windmill Point, on
the steamer "Thomas Powell." After crossing, we halted for a
couple of hours on the bank of the river. There was a beautiful
beach at this point of the river, affording an excellent opportunity
for bathing, which the whole corps took advantage of. In our three
years' service, we ran across no place like that for a swim, and we
made the most of it, and a mighty fine time we had too.
About 3 o'clock we resumed the march towards Petersburg,
372 THREE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
1884. halting at 1 1 P.M. Distance for the day was fifteen miles.
The roads were crooked and narrow, winding over hills
and across swamps, now fragrant with the perfume of the wild mag-
nolias, and resounding with the incessant piping of hundreds of frogs.
At I o'clock this morning, having had two hours'
Friday, rest, we resumed our march, passing through Prince
June 17. George's Court- House in the darkness to a point about
three miles from Petersburg, and bivouacked.
At 8 A.M. we moved to the rear of the outer line of the Peters-
burg intrenchments, where we remained until dusk, in support of the
Ninth Corps. Laid in the earthworks, under a desultory firing of
the enemy, which was kept up nearly all night.
We passed on our march to-day the Fifty-ninth Massachusetts, which
regiment had several officers formerly members of the Thirteenth, and
we found their canteens contained something besides water.
This day being the anniversary of the battle of Bunker Hill, one
of the boys thought some notice ought to be taken of that historic
event. It so happened that during the day our division was re-
quired to make a charge on the enemy's works, an almost daily
event, by the way, during which several men of the division were
killed or wounded, as generally happens on such occasions. Now
the guns of these men were seen lying out in front, a suggestive and
tempting sight to his scheme. A detail was made to go out after
dark and bring them into the works. The guns were then loaded
with the ramrods and fired into the enemy's works. The whizzing
noise that ensued as these ramrods left the guns was too fiinny for
anything, and must have produced a sensation in the rebel camp.
They would have been a good deal more astonished if they had found
themselves, by this means, pinned together as chickens' livers are
prepared for cooking. The racket that this deviltry made started a
firing all along the line of both armies, and might have ended seri-
ously, though we believe it didn't.
Saturday Advanced at daybreak and found the rebels had aban-
June 18. doned their line of last night ; our brigade, which was
in the first line, passing over the dead bodies of both
armies that laid in our path, driving the enemy's skirmishers about
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 373
1864. a mile, when we came in sight of the rebel earthworks.
We then halted and threw up works for our own protection.
We soon made another advance across a field toward the railroad.
A deep cut, dug out for the railroad, passed through the hill about
one hundred and fifty yards in front of us, to gain which we had to
run the gauntlet of musketry and artillery from the enemy intrenched
on a hill the other side of the railroad. Word was passed along that
a dash was to be made, under fire, directly into this cut, and it was
done. As the men in the front line reached the edge of the cut,
fifteen feet high, they jiimped over the edge into the soft yielding
sand, followed by the men in the rear lines, who came tumbling on
top of the first line, before the men could extricate themselves from
their uncomfortable predicament, rolling over each other clear to the
bottom. A more ludicrous sight could hardly be imagined in spite of
the seriousness of the occasion. The lines were reformed in the cut.
The Thirteenth was then deployed as skirmishers and marched out
of the cut by the right flank partially protected by scattering woods
and a ravine, then faced to the front and advanced up the side of
the hill where the enemy was intrenched, and where we halted and
worked all night throwing up breastworks. The enemy could be
distinctly heard doing the same thing on the top of the hill.
A gully made by heavy rains was soon found in this ploughed field
extending from the bank of the river to the upper line of the earth-
works. This we deepened and extended so as to form a sunken way
that could be safely traversed.
This hill was afterwards known as " Fort Crater."
We were expecting to make a charge at half-past seven o'clock
on the works in front of us, but it was abandoned.
We had six men wounded. In building our works, we utilized
the dead bodies of the rebels by burying them in the earth which we
threw up from the trenches, serving the double purpose of burial and
increasing the size of the breastworks.
At daylight we found ourselves within a hundred and
Sunday, ^^^^ yards of a rebel fort, high above us on the crest of
June 19. ^^^ j^.^j^ ^.^j^ ^^^^ staring us in the face. The rebels
were unable to depress their artillery sufficiently to trouble the
874 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. skirmish line so near them, but the infantry made it lively
for us. Any portion of a human body exposed above the
earthworks was sure to draw a perfect shower of bullets.
That they might waste as much ammunition as possible, we fre-
quently tried that old gag, so often told, of raising a cap above the
works by means of a ramrod to attract their fire. Collecting the
guns of the men who had been killed or wounded, we extracted
the ramrods and fired them over into the enemy's works. The
enemy soon discovered what made the peculiar noise and returned
the compliment, until both sides became tired of the novelty. We
had five men wounded during the day.
While here, ammunition and rations were brought to us through the
sunken way already described.
We were relieved at midnight.
The regiment returned to the brigade, taking position
Monday, in the earthworks. Musketry and sharpshooting all day.
June 20. Two men wounded. One of the wounded men was the
color-sergeant, who made more fuss about losing his
haversack than he did about being shot.
At night we were detached from the brigade and sent to the left
to fill a gap occasioned by the withdrawal of Griffin's brigade for
some special service.
Rations of potatoes and cabbage issued.
George Washington called on us to-day. He began his military
career as an officer's servant, in the Thirteenth. Having access to his
employer's canteen he imbibed some of the spirit of " '76 " which led
him to enlist in the Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry, and now he was a
" bloody hero " like the rest of us. There's lots of patriotic spirit
in a canteen after it has been to the commissary.
The earthworks were separated from those of the
Tuesday, enemy by a distance of only four hundred yards and ex-
June 21. posed to the full rays of the sun. To-day it was very
warm without a breath of air stirring. The moment any-
thing appeared above the works it was sure to be saluted with a
dozen bullets. Great caution had therefore to be exercised in our
movements. A trench was dug from the works to the rear like the
THIRTEENm MASS. VOLS. 375
1864. one at the " crater " which made a passageway for the
boys in procuring rations, ammunition, etc. As it con-
nected with an ice-house, we had all the ice we wanted.
A Uttle later the two hills now occupied by the opposing armies
were strongly intrenched and called Forts Hell and Damnation.
Thereafter when a man spoke those words it was supposed he alluded
to the forts.
Our situation at this point was said to be the most dangerous as
well as the most disagreeable, notwithstanding we had only one man
wounded to-day. We were provided with a ration of fresh beef.
The regiment remained in earthworks, detached from
Wednesday, the brigade. Our earthworks were on the top of a hill,
June 22. while those of the "rebs " were on the next hill beyond,
which was higher than ours. It was the most exposed
place for a long distance. Being farther advanced than the troops on
our right, no skirmishers were out during the day, but, instead, men
were detailed to keep watch and to fire occasionally. At night some
pits in front were occupied.
About 4 A.M., while few of the regiment but the alarm guard were
awake, one of the boys crawled from' his blanket and began chatting
with two or three others, when he remarked that he was going to try
one or two shots ; whereupon he stepped to the embankment, and
just as he sighted his gun was struck in the neck. His posture was
such that the bullet entered his body and he fell back and died in a
few moments, without speaking. During the past month this man
had been counting the days and even hours when he would see his
wife and child again, " One day less " was his salutation each
morning. On this particular morning it was " only twenty-four days
more, boys ! " Few of us had wives or children to be anxious about,
and his death excited moer than the usual pity for his hard luck.
We had another man killed in the afternoon. He was a conscript
and came to us with that batch of reprobates about which we have
written so much. He was an Irishman, and when assigned to his com-
pany, no one wanted him. No one knew his history until later, when
we learned that he was a drafted man. Supposing him to be like the
others, he was shunned by all. As he stood apart from the rest, the
376 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. tears were seen to roll down the poor fellow's cheeks.
Whereupon one of the boys, whose sympathy was excited
at the sight, stepped up to him and with kind words told him to come
and tent with him and his chum, and with these two boys he stayed
until he was killed. The feelings of this man must have been terrible ;
drafted and sent to the front in companionship with the vilest rufSans,
to stand friendless and forsaken in the midst of an army. This man
when drafted was unable to convince the examining surgeon that he
was disqualified from performing the duties of a soldier by reason of
an old injury to his shoulder which prevented him from carrying a gun.
He persisted that he could not do so, and threw away every musket
that was given him, so that he was useless as a fighting man. Upon
being taken as a messmate by the two boys, he conceived a great
fondness for them and was very useful in many ways. As a forager
he had no equal, so the boys lived very well, even when rations were
short. When the regiment went into battle, armed with a spade he
kept close to his messmates, insisting upon keeping with them, even
against their remonstrances, saying, " Surely, if one of ye's is kilt,
I'll be handy by with the spade to kiver ye up." At one place where
we had thrown up earthworks, water was only procured by running
the gauntlet of the rebel fire, where each man in a company must
load himself with canteens and take his turn, with its chances, or
show his weakness. One day this conscript succeeded in collecting
the canteens, and insisted upon doing this service for one of his
chums whose turn it was. He was expostulated with, but before he
could be stopped, was half way to the spring, saying, " It's meself
has no frinds ! " On the way back he was knocked over by a
bullet which struck one of the canteens, and feeling the water run
down his leg, supposed it was blood. " I'm kilt, I'm kilt ! " he
hollered, and the boys rushed out and brought him in, to find that it
was only the canteen that was " kilt," the concussion of which
knocked him over. He continued to serve his comrades faithfully,
standing by their side in every hour of danger, until to-day, when a
bullet struck him and he fell dead beside them. It was a hard case,
as it was a very singular one. The boys took him to the rear and
buried him beside his other comrade who was killed in the morning.
TBIRTEENTB MASS. VOLS. 377
1864. One of the boys who assisted at these burials was
wounded on his way back to the trenches.
_, , Remained in the earthworks. One man wounded.
Thursday,
June 23. '^^^ boys were getting more cautious. Heretofore they
had been rather reckless. As compared to the rest of
our brigade our regiment had been fortunate in the number of
killed and wounded.
We were relieved about 7 A.M. and moved to the left
Friday, about a mile, where we joined our division, and by noon
June 24. were established in position in the first line, under a
brisk fire, on the left of the Jerusalem Road, at a point
where the heavy fighting was done on the twenty-second. We began
at once to throw up earthworks.
During the night an alarm was sounded from the skirmish line, but
nothing came from it.
We were now on the ground where Fort Warren (subsequently
called Fort Davis) was built.
One of the boys who, being a drummer, had more liberty than the
rest of us, took advantage of his opportunities to learn what he could
of the country about and the position of other troops in our
vicinity ; all of which was interesting to those of us who were con-
fined within the narrow limits of earthworks. He was an observing
chap, this boy of ours, and what he saw during his peregrinations he
related on his return, to oar great amusement and edification.
To-day he returned with a startling piece of information. We
guessed all sorts of things we thought he might have seen, from
General Washington's body servant to a " straight flush," until at
last, in despair we demanded to know, without any more nonsense,
what it was. " A new rail fence ! " — " Sam, you are a d — d liar,"
was the response that was made. To appreciate what a miracle this
was, one should have been with the army.
The Twelfth Massachusetts started for home to-day,
Saturday, turning over their recruits to the Thirty-ninth Massachu-
June 25. setts. Our turn next. The Twelfth Massachusetts was
one of the finest regiments sent out by the State of Mas-
sachusetts, and had a record of which it was justly proud. We bade
378 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. the boys good-by, after an association together of more
than two years, with the kindest feelings of regard.
Tuesday, In Company with the Thirty-ninth Massachusetts we
June 28. moved to the front about half a mile and built earthworks
under cover of the night. These works were at right
angles with those in the rear.
Completed the works which we had been laboring on
Thursday, since the night of the twenty-eighth.
June 30. The regiment was complimented in orders from
General Crawford, for our efficiency in building earth-
works. It was about the last chance for compliments, as in sixteen
days more we should " Lay down the shovel and the hoe, hoe, hoe."
Pickets mutually agreed to desist from sharpshooting. We wished
they might desist from all shooting until after our departure for
home on the i6th of July. It seemed as if that joyous day would
never come.
We learned that time drags mighty slowly when you
Friday, are waiting for it to pass.
July I. jj ^^g g^ ,t red'letter " day with us to-day, being the first
time we had drawn rations from any source except the
government's larder. The Sanitary Commission issued to us, caimed
turkey and chicken, canned mutton and tomatoes, condensed milk,
loaves of bread and lemons, besides other things. As one of
the boys wittily remarked, " They always fat a pig just before they
kill him, so let us not eat too much." If we could have struck
some " commissary" we might have made good use of the lemons.
While some of the boys were crowded together about
Thursday, sundown on a little rise at the edge of the woods, watch-
July 7- ing a " reb " double-quick up and down the line as
punishment for exchanging papers on picket, a shell was
thrown among his comrades, killing one and wounding two men.
The enemy taking advantage of the quiet which pre-
Monday, vailed to-day, and the carelessness that occurs on such
July II. occasions, suddenly opened fire with artillery. For a few
minutes the scene was very lively. Nobody of our regiment was hurt,
though the colonel of the Thirty-ninth Massachusetts was killed.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 379
1864. At night the regiment was moved back to assist in
building Fort Warren, afterward Fort Davis, in honor of
the colonel of the Thirty-ninth.
Still at work on the fort, which was laid out so as to be,
AAT'ednesday.when completed, four hundred feet square. It was hard
July 13. work and continued night and day, the men being re-
lieved every two hours for rest. It took eight men to
get one shovelful of dirt from the bottom of the ditch to the top of
the work, the men standing on little niches cut in the side and pass-
ing the earth from one to another.
General Orders, 1
No. 69. f Headquarters Fifth Army Corps,
July 13, 1864.
[Extract.]
4. The officers and enlisted men of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers
whose term of service expires on the i6th instant will proceed on that date to
Massachusetts and report to the General Superintendent of recruiting service for
that State for muster-out and discharge.
The Assistant Commissionary of Muster of the Third Division will accompany
the command to the place of embarkation and see that no officers or enlisted men
leave the army except those entitled to discharge by reason of expiration of
time.
5. The enlisted men of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers whose term
of service does not expire on the 1 6th instant will be transferred to the Thirty-ninth
Massachusetts Volunteers. Their late officers will not be permitted to leave the
army until they have furnished the descriptive lists and necessary transfer papers
of the men so transferred.
By command of
MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN.
380 lUREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
CHAPTER XVIII.
1864. The happiest day we had experienced for many a long
Thursday, month had now arrived. We were to turn our faces
■^ homeward, having received orders to go to the rear and
make out the necessary papers for our departure, turn-
ing over to the Thirty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment all enlisted
men whose term of service had not expired.
No more marching, no more skirmish or picket duty, no more
fighting, and no more digging. It was hard to realize that in a few
days we should be beyond the sound of the " long roll ; " that we
would soon be sitting in our arm-chairs at home criticising the
movements of the army and its generals, like a disgruntled tax-payer,
without the risk of insubordination. " Put down those rails ! " might,
in our dreams, disturb our slumber; we might occasionally be
startled by an imaginary order to " Turn out the guard ! " but on
waking we could say, " Never mind the guard ! " and turn over to
sleep again. Already we were thinking of the joy in store for us in
the meeting of old friends, and wondering if our old comrades were
as anxious to see us as we were them.
While our papers were being prepared we made and received
calls from our acquaintances in other organizations, with whom we
had been long associated, bidding them " good-by," until 6.30 P.M.,
when we took up the line of march to City Point. The boys were
in high spirits, singing the old songs with a, joy that hadn't been
felt for months. The rear of a great army, with its wagon-trains
loaded with food and ammunition, which we met on the road, was a
curiosity even to us. The soil on the roads was so ground to pow-
der, almost knee-deep, that in the bright moonlight the atmosphere
looked like a fog.
We marched six miles, and then halted. During one of our halts
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 381
1864. some of the boys discovered posts driven into the ground
in such a way as to excite their curiosity to know the pur-
pose. A match was lighted and examination made, when there was
seen tacked to one of these posts a paper containing the information
that a soldier would be hanged there the next day for some offence
not stated. This was not a pleasant reminder of a soldier's life.
We came to a final halt about i A.M. within a short distance of
the James River.
At daylight we were on the way again and marched
Friday, to the river, halting at City Point, five miles, where
July 15. we waited for the steamer. Off went our clothes and
into the river we plunged for a frolic and a swim, and
great was the fun we had.
At 4 P.M. we boarded the steamer " City of Bath," and were
soon on our way. It was a glorious sail until sunset, when we
anchored near Jamestown.
Three years to-day since we were mustered into the
Saturday, United States service. We continued our sail down
July 16. (^jjg river, around Fortress Monroe, and anchored near
the mouth of the Potomac at 8 P.M. Some of the
boys paid tribute to old Neptune, and were so unhappy that they
would have reenlisted for twenty years to have escaped their present
misery.
After a beautiful sail up the Potomac we landed at
Sunday, Seventh-street wharf, and marched down Pennsylvania
July 17. avenue to the " Soldier's Rest," where we were quar-
tered for the night.
One of the boys, who was wounded a few days since, and whom
we were bringing home, died on the way up the river.
Left Washington at 8 P.M. for Baltimore, where we
Monday, arrived at 2 A.M., and proceeded to another " Soldier's
July 18. Rest," where we received refreshments, and then went
to sleep on the sidewalk.
Left Baltimore at 10 P.M. and proceeded as far as
Tuesday, Philadelphia, being on the road all night. This was not
July 19. a "fast train."
382 THREE YEARS IX THE ARMY.
1864 Arrived in Philadelphia at 6 A.M. and marched to the
Wednesday, << Cooper-shop " where we had breakfast. What changes
July zo. jj^^ taken place with us since our last entertainment at
this place ! yet the same kindly hospitality existed as at
our previous visit. We were treated with great kindness by the
people of Philadelphia, who flocked to see us and who showed us as
much attention as though we belonged there. Our story is nearly
ended, and we have written so much that we have left ourselves too
little space in which to express what we all felt toward the people of
that great city ; but we shall always remember the interest they took
in us, and their kindly greetings. At 8 A.M. we bade them all good-
by and took the train for New York, which city we reached at 3
o'clock, marching up Broadway to the Park barracks, where refresh-
ments \Nere supplied to those who wished them. The officers were
handsomely entertained at dinner by the proprietors of the Astor
House, while many of the boys found old and new friends in readi-
ness to take them where hospitalities awaited. So much kindness
and friendly interest was shown by everybody that we began to think
possibly we might be heroes, though our appearance suggested
tramps. How they laughed at us when we apologized for our ragged
and dirty uniforms ! We had a " bully " time until 8 o'clock, when
we took the train for home, via the Boston & Albany Railroad.
[From the " New York World," July 21, 1S64.]
The Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers arrived in the city yesterday from the
front ynHa ranks shattered and decimated, and covered with the smoke and dust
of the battles they have passed through. It has participated in the battles under
General McClellan's command and those of his successor, General Grant. The
Thirteenth has recruited, since its departure, to fourteen hundred and forty men,
and nowr return with but two hundred and sixty-five men and seventeen officers.
The regiment, or what there is left of it, looks well and hearty. They lefl last
evening for Springfield.
Upon reaching Worcester at 6 A.M. we found dele-
Thursday, gations from the various towns, besides a large crowd of
July 21. friends in Worcester, who greeted us with enthusiastic
cordiality, after which we proceeded to Boston, ^where we
were met by a committee of our old comrades who had made great
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 383
1864. preparations to give us a royal welcome. As the band
struck up our old Fort Independence song, " Corporal of
the guard, post eight," it touched a tender chord in our memory,
bringing back to our recollection the day when we marched away with
one thousand and thirty-eight men. We marched to Boylston Hall,
on the corner of Washington and Boylston streets, where facilities had
been provided for a good wash and a good drink. While we were
busy with our toilet or shaking hands with old comrades and friends,
who should walk into the hall but General Hartsuff, our old brigadier-
general. Joining hands we formed a ring with the general in the
centre. If he had any doubts of our fondness for him, they must have
been removed at that moment, for such enthusiasm is rarely seen. We
had not met him since he led us through the corn-field at Antietam,
where he was wounded and where we separated. Cheer upon
cheer was sent up in greeting to him, until we were hoarse with
the effort. This was an unexpected pleasure to all. It seems that
he happened in town that morning, and accidently hearing of our
arrival, he came up to see us. He could hardly appreciate the grat-
ification his presence afforded us, for no opportunity had been pre-
viously given us of testifying the admiration we felt for him as a
soldier and a commander. After shaking hands with us all, and three
more cheers for him, we marched to the United States Hotel, where
we breakfasted, and the rest of our story is contained in the following
account ;
[From the " Boston Journal," July 21, 1S64.]
THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT COMING HOME.
The veteran heroes of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment, or rather what
remains of that gallant corps, after an active campaign of three years in the Army
of the Potomac, left New York on their way homeward at 8 o'clock last evening.
It is well known that the nucleus of the Thirteenth was the Fourth Battalion of
Rifles, and that it was composed chiefly of young men of this city and of the im-
mediate vicinity.
The reception which the regiment vrill receive to-day will undoubtedly be one
worthy of its distinguished services. In addition to the honors paid it by the city
and State authorities, the Boston City Guards, Roxbury State Guard, Fourth Bat-
talion of Rifles, and past members of the regiment, will unite in demonstrations of
welcome, and the occasion will be an unusually interesting one.
384 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. [From the " Evening Transcript."]
ARRIVAL OF THE THIRTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS.
These war-worn veterans, owing to unavoidable delay, did not arrive until about
9 o'clock, when they were escorted to Boylston Hall, where their equipments were
deposited. They then, under the escort of past members of the regiment and the
old City Guard, commanded by Gen. John S. Tyler, proceeded to the United
States Hotel, where their inner man was comforted by a hot breakfast, prepared
in Mr. F. M. Pratt's well-known style.
The men looked hearty and happy. The regiment numbers eighteen officers
and two hundred and fifty-six men. The losses in action have been heavy, and a
large number have been commissioned in other regiments, and detailed for duties
in the departments at Washington.
The following is the roster of the regiment :
Colonel, Samuel H.Leonard; Lieutenant-Colonel, Charles H. Hovey; Major,
E. C. Pierce; Adjutant, David H. Bradlee; Quartermaster, George E. Craig; Sur-
geon, AUston W. Whitney ; Assistant-Surgeon, Loyd W. Hixon.
Captains : O. F. Morse, O. C. Livermore, W. H. Cary, J. A. Howe, William
B. Kimball, Morton Tower, David Whiston, H. N. Washburn, T. R. Wells, and
W. S. Damrell.
Lieutenants: M. S. Smith, Edward F. Rollins, R. M. Armstrong, W. R.
Warner, E. W. Cody, and F. Stowe.
(All these officers, however, were not present to-day.)
After breakfasting, the Thirteenth returned to Boylston Hall, where they were
received by the escort, composed of the Independent Cadets, Major Jeffries (who
were under orders to parade in the afternoon, but turned out this morning with
but an hour's notice), accompanied by the band of the First United States Artil-
lery, Captain Little's Heavy Artillery Company from Fort Warren, the Roxbury
Reserve Guard, Capt. Edward Wyman, and the past members of the Thirteenth
and old City Guard, under the lead of Gen. John S. Tyler, assisted by Major
J. C. Park and Col. N. A. Thompson, preceded by the Germania Band.
The route of the procession was through Kneeland street, Harrison avenue,
Chauncy, Summer, Winter, Tremont, Boylston (where a rest was taken for re-
freshments), Arlington, Beacon, Tremont, Court, and State streets, to Faneuil
Hall. The scene along the entire route was one of great enthusiasm, giving proof
of appreciation by the citizens of the arduous services of this Boston regiment.
The hall was elegantly decorated. The galleries were occupied at an early
hour by the fair friends of the soldiers, and presented a view of compact
animation.
A blessing was invoked by Rev. N. M. Gaylord, former chaplain of the regi-
ment, at the close of which Mayor Lincoln invited the veterans and escort to par-
take of the rations before them, which they were ordered to do by Colonel
Fellows, without regard to military precedent, as they were minus their haver-
sacks.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 385
1864. After which the regiment was granted a furlough until August
1st, when it was to assemble for muster-out.
[From the " Boston Herald," July 32, 1864.]
ARRIVAL OF THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.
The Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment, comprising two hundred and fifty-six
men and seventeen officers, reached Boston over the Worcester Railroad at 9
o'clock this forenoon. A committee composed of past members of the Thirteenth
and many members of the Old City Guard, of which Capt. James A. Fox was
chairman, was present to meet the regiment. There were also present the usual
crowd of personal acquaintances and relatives of the men comprising the regi-
ment, who gathered around the train eager to embrace their long absent but
now returned friends.
Line was immediately formed, and the regiment, headed by the Germania
Band and a force of police, proceeded directly to Boylston Hall, where they dis-
encumbered themselves of their equipments, and marched back to the United
States Hotel, where they partook of a bountiful breakfast. Thence they returned
to Boylston Hall, and from there they will be escorted and received by the au-
thorities later in the day.
The Thirteenth Regiment left the front a week ago to-day, and came North by
the land route, being the first to pass over the railroad between Washington and
Baltimore, after its destruction by the recent rebel raiders, and accomplished the
journey without accident.
During the present campaign the regiment has lost about eighty men, of which
number the proportion of killed is comparatively small, being about fifteen —
twelve privates and two or three officers. The men who had reenlisted were
left behind, having been transferred to the Thirty-ninth Regiment; and one
hundred and thirty-six men besides were left in the hospital, though not in those
immediately connected with the army. Some half a dozen, not too feeble to be
transported, also returned home. The men as a general thing look rugged,
bronzed, and hearty, and manifest no little delight at being once more among
their friends.
Between 11 and 12 o'clock the escort arrived at Boylston Hall, and was formed
in Washington street. It comprised the following-named bodies :
Independent Corps of Cadets, Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes; Capt. T. J. Little's
company of heavy artillery, from Fort Warren; 75 men, with the band of the
First United States Artillery, from Fort Independence; the Roxbury State Guard,
35 men, Capt. Edward Wyman, with drum corps; members of the Old City
Guard and past members of the Thirteenth Regiment, with badges, and number-
ing about 150 men, with the Germania Band.
The escort was under the chief marshalship of General Tyler, assisted by Col.
N. A. Thompson, John C. Park, Esq., and others as aids.
386 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. The procession having been formed, it moved through Kneeland
street, Harrison avenue, Chauncy, Summer, Winter, Tremont,
Boylston, Arlington, and Beacon streets, to the State House; thence through
Beacon, Tremont, Court, State, Commercial, and Market streets, to Faneuil Hall,
reaching the latter place at i o'clock.
The demonstrations on the route were quite numerous and enthusiastic, and the
veterans heartily cheered. On Harrison avenue there was considerable bunting
displayed, and the same was the case on Arlington and Beacon streets, where
innumerable flags were thrown out.
At the residence of Colonel Thompson, on Boylston street, the regiment made
a halt, and were furnished with copious libations of ice-water, lemonade, etc.,
and as they passed up Beacon street, by the Common, they were honored with a
national salute fired by a section of the Boston Light Artillery, under Captain
Cummings.
Faneuil Hall was decorated as heretofore on similar occasions, and the front
gallery supported the words, " WELCOME, THIRTEENTH REGIMENT."
One-half of the galleries was densely filled with ladies, who threw numerous
bouquets and kisses and waved their delicate kerchiefs at the noble veterans as
they filed into the hall and took their places around the tables. The other gallery
was filled with the members of the escort.
On the platform were His Honor Mayor Lincoln, and members of the reception
committee of the City Government, the marshals, and the officers of the regiment
After all had been seated, prayer was oftered by Rev. Chaplain Gaylord,
formerly of the Thirteenth Regiment. Subsequently the assembly, at the invitation
of the Mayor, partook of the collation provided for them.
Subsequently the Mayor claimed the attention of the men and addressed them,
extending a cordial welcome, and saying that our crowded streets, and the
enthusiasm noticeable everywhere, was sufficient indication of how the people felt
upon their arrival home. He said it was not for him to go into a history of all
that they had done. For three years they had been defending the flag and all it
represented. The members of the old State Militia who had turned out to-day,
as well as the demonstrations of the rest of the citizens of Boston, seemed to him
to indicate that they were proud of the renown which the Thirteenth had
achieved.
Adjutant-General Schouler next spoke in behalf of the State, saying for the
Governor that he was proud of the old Thirteenth Regiment for the history it had
conferred upon the Commonwealth. In behalf of the State, whose citizens they
were, in behalf of the great honor they had won for Massachusetts, he welcomed
them back to their homes and their firesides.
Colonel Leonard responded, in behalf of the regiment, expressing his heartfelt
thanks for the reception which had been extended them, and which he considered
evidence that their services had been appreciated, and that the people thought
they had done their duty.
The speaker then referred to the organization of the regiment and continued
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 387
1864. giving a very minute and detailed account of its adventures since
leaving the State, and claiming for it its full share of glory. He
closed with a renewed expression of thanks for the hospitalities extended to-day.
General Hartsuff, who once commanded a brigade of which the Thirteenth
formed a part, was now called up, and made a very brief but eloquent speech,
saying that when he took command of the brigade alluded to, he knew not a man
in it, they were all entire strangsrs to him. When he left it, he said it numbered
three thousand men, and he trusted that in it he had three thousand friends.
(Cheers.) The Thirteenth, he said, was one of the best regiments in his com-
mand, and he had found no better among the sixty which had since been under
him. He thanked them very kindly for the greeting they had given him, and
was glad to see the evidences of satisfaction with which their friends had regarded
their course, for he thought it was deserved and sincere.
Rev. Chaplain Gaylord, who was formerly connected with the regiment, was
next introduced and was warmly received. After some preliminary remarks, he
said he had never been so happy in all his life as to-day. He had crowded into a
few brief hours happiness enough for a lifetime, in witnessing the reception the
city of Boston had given them. He said that he was in a position to tell all he
knew about the Thirteenth, and he would do it in presence of that vast assembly
and in the hearing of the reporters. There were those present whose hearts were
swelling with the memories of three years, back to the time when they marched
through our streets one thousand and twenty strong. Not a day had passed but
their thoughts and prayers had gone forth for these noble and brave boys. The
prayer of mother and wife, father and sister, was that God would bring them back
as good men as they had gone forth.
Those prayers had been heard, and many of them had returned not only as
good but better men. " Oh, I know them well," said the speaker, " they are a gay
and festive crowd." (Laughter.) He had slept with them under the same fence
corner and under the same blanket, and oftentimes had shared their hardtack;
they were fond of fun, ready to joke, a brave, generous, noble-hearted body of
New England young men. (Cheers.) They were celebrated wherever they
went for their mirth and jollity. But this was not all : they were, when occasion
demanded, sober and thoughtful; and they were intelligent.
He envied the man who had been through all their trials. He was proud of
the reception they had this day received. To use the language of the old hymn,
it was " the day for which all others were made." The speaker also gave them
some advice, saying that they would go back into society and would meet more
temptations than in camp. He conjured them to preserve their moral integrity,
and cause no one to blush for any act of theirs. " Go back," said he, " and be-
come, each of you, a healthy, moral influence in society.
" Frown down anything that looks like treason. Whenever you meet a sleepy,
squalling half-patriot, shake him up, and make him to see things as they are. Tell
them that your brave general has his grasp upon the throat of that rebel scoundrel,
Lee, and that he will throttle him before many months. (Cheers.) That the
388 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
1864. army is hopeful, that there is no going back, and no rest, until the
* rebellion is completely crushed and subdued." (^Cheers.) He closed
by expressing his thanks for the kindness which they had always shown him.
John C. Parke, Esq., spoke in behalf of the City Guard, and the men were then
furloughed and dismissed.
On the first day of August we assembled on Boston Common and
were mustered out of the United States service in due form. Among
the persons present at the ceremony was our old division commander,
General Robinson, who lost a leg at Spottsylvania, whom we had not
seen since that day so unfortunate to him. His presence, there-
fore, afforded us an unqualified pleasure, which was demonstrated with
an enthusiasm we honestly felt for him as a brave and gallant officer.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS.
389
LIST OF MEN KILLED IN BATTLE.
THE following list contains the names of men who were killed or
who died of wounds received in battle, arranged according
to battles :
Pritchard's Mills, Sept. 75, 756/.
John L. Spencer.
Thoroughfare Gap, Aug. 28, 1862.
Daniel R. Jackson.
Geo. Clarke.
Manassas, Aug. S°> 1862.
Paul E. Fiedler.
Albert S. Estes.
Henry A. Holden.
Wm. R. Porter.
Loring Bigelow.
Charles B. Mills.
Albert O. Curtis.
Jacob H. Littlefield.
Henry S. Sanborn.
Frederick A. Williams.
Chas. T. Linfield.
Warren A. Blanchard.
Elias H. Bennett.
Frederick A. Dickenson.
John E. Keith.
John Mitchell.
Chas. E. Page.
Wm. D. Dorsey.
John E. Dowling.
Albert Hazeltine.
John F. McNally.
Edwin F. Morris.
Chauncy L. Peck.
Ira Bowman.
Edwin N. Welch.
Hollis L. Johnson.
Washington I. Lothrop.
Wm. H. Baker.
Charles H. Coggins.
Geo. R. Markham.
Alfred G. Howe.
Franklin J. Wood.
Edward E. Bond.
Isaac B. Crowell.
Peter Flynn.
Wm. H. P. Christopher.
Thomas Copeland.
Hollis H. Fairbanks.
Antietam, Sept. 17, i86z.
Wm. F. Barry.
Thomas P. Bowker, Jr.
39,0
THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
Samuel S. Gould.
Chas. R. Nelson.
John P. Shelton.
Geo. F. Wakefield.
Isaac H. Stimpson.
Chas. A. Clement.
Joshua T. Lawrence.
David S. Thurber.
James T. E. Kendall.
Edward S. Danforth.
Thomas J. Oddy.
Chas. E. Perkins.
Geo. O. Berry.
John E. LaClair.
Chas. A. Whittier.
Daniel E. Reed.
Luther F. Favour.
Geo. W. Gale.
Adna P. Hall.
James N. Smith.
Thomas R. Gassett.
Hollis Holden.
Chas. A. Trask.
Chas. H. Wellington.
Fredericksburg, Dec. /J, jS6z.
Geo. E. Bigelow.
Chas. Armstrong.
Chas. J. Taylor.
Edmond H. Kendall.
Fitzhugh Crossing, April 30, i86j.
George Bush.
William Cordwell.
Chancellor sville. May 4, 1863.
Samuel S. Carlton.
Gettysburg, yuly 1—4, 1863,
John F. Welden.
Edwin Field.
Chas. E. Leland.
Roland B. Morris.
John S. Fiske.
James H. Stetson.
Geo. S. Wise.
Edgar A. Fiske.
Edward Church.
Geo. A. Atkinson.
Herschel A. Sanborn.
John M. Brock.
Prince A. Dunton.
Wm. H. Gage.
Sylvester A. Hayes.
John M. Russell.
Chas. W. Andrews.
Chas. Stone.
WiUard Wheeler.
Horatio A. Cutting.
John Flye.
Frank A. Gould.
Michael O'Laughlin.
Geo. E. Sprague.
Wilderness, May j, 1864.
Jos. H. Stuart.
Edward A. Vorra.
Gilbert H. Greenwood.
Theodore H. Goodnough.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS.
391
Spottsylvania, May 8, 1S64.
Selah B. Alden.
William Sanders.
John Schnell.
Chas. A. Williams.
RoUa Nicholas.
Thomas E. Bancroft
Charles E. Colburn.
Chas. W. Whitcomb.
Charles W. Mosher.
John P. Peebles.
Wm. P. Farqueson.
Chas. F. Rice.
Bethesda Church, June 2, 1S64.
Walter Humphreys.
Cold Harbor, June j, 1864.
Daniel A. Levering.
Myrick T. Wentworth.
Petersburg, July, 1864.
Edmund P. Hayes.
Thomas Casey.
William F. Brigham.
Joseph W. Mann.
Anton Otto.
RECAPITULATION.
Pritchard's Mills, Sept. i, 1861 .
Thoroughfare Gap, Aug. 28, 1862
Manassas, Aug. 30, 1862 .
Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862 .
Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862*
Fitzhugh Crossing, April 30, 1863
Chancellorsville, May 4, 1863
Gettysburg, July 1-4, 1863
Wilderness, May 5, 1864 .
Spottsylvania, May 8, 1864
Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864
Cold Harbor, June -3, 1864
Petersburg, July, 1864
I
2
38
26
4
2
I
24
4
12
I
2
S
122
392 THREE YEAIiS IN THE ABMT.
ROSTER
THE following roster was transcribed from the books of the regi-
ment, and each name carefully compared with the list on file
at the Adjutant-General's office. As the company books were away
from the regiment on several of the longer campaigns, it was difficult
to keep an accurate account of the whereabouts of the men who were
absent, as we all know. If any injustice has been done any man by
this publication, it is due to his own neglect in not seeing that his
service was correctly recorded at the State House, where clerks have
been employed for more than thirty years in readiness to correct any
and all mistakes that may have occurred.
For the information of those whose names are published as de-
serters, I have to say that they are so entered on the books of the
regiment and the files at the State House. I am informed by the
War Department that the State has been notified of each case
where the charge of desertion has been removed. I am obliged,
therefore, to take the record as I find it.
C. E. Davis, Jr.
AbbreviaiioHS used in Roster. — V.R.C., Veteran Reserve Corps; Col., Colored; H.A.,
Heavy Artillery.
Charlf5 F. Adams; age, 20; born, Dorchester, Mass.; clerk; mustered in
as priv., Co. A, Aug. 7, '62; mustered out, Aug. 7, '64; wounded at Get-
tysburg, July I, '63, and transferred to V. R. C; residence, Boston, Mass.
Henry P. Adams; age, 23; born. New Boston, N.H.; clerk; mustered in
as priv., Co. H, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 11, '63.
William D. Adams; age, 21; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as Corp.,
Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, March, '63; promoted to sergt., Nov. i,
'62; commissioned as 1st lieut. in the 79th U.S. colored troops, March, '63;
residence, Orange, N.J.
GODLOVE AeCHTLER; age, 18; born, Germany; burnisher; mustered in as
Corp., Co. E, July 16, '61; deserted, July 4, '62.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 393
Daniel C. Aiken; age, 20; born, Derry, N.H.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. G, July i6, '61; mustered out, Nov. 21, '62; wounded, Aug.
30, '62.
Eugene A. AlbeE; age, 24; born, Marlboro', Mass.; farmer; mustered in as
Corp., Co. I, July 16, '61; promoted to 2d lieut., 40th Mass. Inf., Aug. 23,
'62; promoted to capt., 40th Mass. Inf., June 25, '63; mustered out, April
20, '64; died Oct., '93.
John AlCOCK; age, 22; born, England; seaman; mustered in as priv., Co.
B, July 28, '63; deserted, Aug. 20, '63.
SeLAH B. Alden ; age, 28; born, Lynn, N.H.; cordwainer; mustered in
as priv., Co. D, July 22, '61; died of wounds received. May 25, '64; pro-
moted to Corp., April 26, '64.
Augustus Allen; age, 25; born, Franklin, Mass.; machinist; mustered in
as Corp., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, Sept. 5, '62; residence, Orange,
Mass.
Charles H. Allen; age, 29; born, Kennebec, Me.; teacher; mustered in
as priv., Co. C, Aug. 2, '6i; mustered out, Feb. 6, '63; wounded, Sept. 17,
'62.
Edward F. Allen; age, 28; born, Lancaster, N.H.; trader; mustered in
as priv., Co. A, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. 1, '64; residence. Brook-
line, Mass.
Fred W. Allen; age, 21; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv., Co.
B, July 16, '61; deserted, Aug. 30, '62.
John Allen; age, 28; born, Canada; farmer; mustered in as priv., Co. A,
July 27, '63; died Oct. 15, '63.
William A. Alley; age, 19; bom, Danvers, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. I, July 16, '61; mustered out, Oct. 12, '63; sergt., Nov.
I, '62; sergt. -major, April I, '63; 2d lieut., June 30, '63; wounded at
Gettysburg, July i, '63; residence, Brockton, Mass.
William B. Allyn; age, 20; born, Belfast, Me.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. A, July 16, '61; deserted, April 26, '62.
Walter T. Amos; age, 18; born. New York City; druggist; mustered in
as priv., Co. E, July 24, '61; mustered out, Dec. 23, '62.
John ArNOTT ; age, 22; bom, Bathgate, Scotland; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. C, July 16, '61; died Oct. 18, '62; wounded and taken prisoner.
Archibald Anderson; age, 25; bom, Scotland; seaman; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 27, '63; transferred to navy, April 22, '64.
George R. Anderson ; age, 18; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, July 24, '61; deserted, Sept. 13, '62.
William J. Anderson; age, 20; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, Aug. 22, '62; deserted, Sept. 13, '62.
Charles W. Andrews; age, 19; born, Claremont, N.H.; carpenter; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. I, July 28, '62; killed, July i, '63.
Thomas L. AppLETON; age, 19; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out as capt., Aug. 21, '65; commissioned
in 54th Mass. Vols., Feb. 19, '63; residence, Chelsea.
Edward Archibald; age, 23; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. C, Aug. 6, '62; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence, Montreal, P.Q.
894 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
Charles Armstrong; age, 22; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, Aug. 6, '62; killed, Dec. 13, '62.
Geo. D. Armstrong; age, 20; bom, St. Stephens, N.B.; clerk; mustered
in as Corp., Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, Dec. 17, '62; wounded
at Manassas, Aug. 30, '62; residence, Lewiston, Me.
Robert M. Armstrong; age, 21; born, Albany, N.Y.; clerk; mustered in
as Corp., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out as 1st lieut., Aug. I, '64; pro-
moted to 1st lieut., April 16, '64; residence, San Francisco, Cal.
Samuel B. Arnold; age 23; born, Roxbury, Me.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 16, '61; mustered out as Corp., Aug. I, '64.
George M. Ash; age, 21; born, Bangor, Me.; auctioneer; mustered in as
priv., Co. A, July 29, '61; mustered out, Dec. 30, '62.
Edwin H. Atkins; age, 18; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. I, July 22, '62; mustered out, Aug. I, '64; residence, Gardner, Me.
George A. Atkinson; age, 25; born, Amherst, N.S.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; killed, July i, '63.
Algernon S. Auld; age, 21; bom, Boothbay, Me.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. C, Aug. 7, '62; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence, 236 Prince-
ton street. East Boston.
Orlow Austin; age, 20; bom, Salem, N.H.; bleacher; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. I, '64; wounded at Petersburg,
June ig, '64; detailed for duly as guard at General Newton's head-
quarters.
J. H. Ayer ; age, 18; born, Boston; shoemaker; mustered in as priv., Co.
G, July, 16, '61; mustered out, Nov. i, '62.
Michael G. AyerS ; age, 20; born, Boston; painter; mustered in as priv.,
Co. B, July 31, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence, Philadephia.
AlONZO p. Bacon; age, 21; born, Winchester, Mass.; clerk; mustered in
as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, March 9, '63, for promotion ;
detailed as clerk at headquarters, June, '62; appointed capt., Ulman's brigade
Colored Troops, March 9, '63; resigned, July, '63; residence, San Fran-
cisco, Cal.
Henry Bacon; age, 21; born, Haverhill, Mass.; artist; mustered in as
Corp., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Dec. 19, '62, on account of
wounds received at second Bull Run; was special artist with French Army
in the Franco-Prussian war; residence, Paris, France.
James Bacon; age, 21; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv., Co. E,
July 27, '61; mustered out, Nov. 15, '62; address, B. & A. R.R., Boston.
JoSIAH S. Bacon; age, 26; born, Natick, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered in
as sergt., Co. H, July 19, '61; mustered out as 1st sergeant, Jan. 8, '63;
wounded, Aug. 30, '62, at Manassas; residence, Natick, Mass.
William B. Bacon; age, 19; mustered in as ist lieut., July 16, '61; re-
signed, July 25, '62, to accept appointment as capt. in 34th Mass. Vols.
Charles Badger; age, 27; bom, Natick, Mass.; farmer; mustered in as
priv., Co. F, March 24, '62; mustered out, Aug. 17, '63.
William A. Bail; age, 19; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv., Co.
B, Aug. 8, '62; died, Jan. u, '63.
George H. Bailey; age, 19; born. Sterling, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. F., July, 16, '61 ; mustered out, April 22, '63.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 395
AlPHONSO Baker; age, 23; born, Portsmouth, N.H.; bookbinder; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; resi-
dence, Boston.
Frank O. Baker; age, 20; born, Lancaster, N.H.; clerk; mustered in as
sergt., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Dec. 22, '62.
JOHN Baker; age, 21; bom, Germany; baker; mustered in as priv., Co. E,
July 16, '6x; mustered out, Jan. 23, '63.
William Baker; age, 34; bom, Marlboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mustered
in as Corp., Co. I, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; wounded
Aug. 30, '62; residence, Marlboro', Mass.
William H. Baker; age, 20; born, Weymouth, Mass.; student; mustered
in as priv., Co. H, Aug. 5, '62; killed, Aug. 30, '62.
Henry C. Balch; age, 18; bom, Frescott, Me.; clerk; mustered in as
Corp., Co. E, July 16, '5i; mustered out, Oct. 23, '63.
Charles Baldwin; age, 44; bom, Westmoreland, N.H.; stonecutter; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out. May 21, '62; ap-
pointed fifer, Co. K, Feb., '62; died, Feb. II, '79.
Peter BamboUR; age, 18; bom, Boston; moulder; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E, July 16, '61; deserted, July 4, '62.
Marcus M. Bancroft; age, 19; born, Wilmington, Mass. ; farmer; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. 1, '64.
Thomas E. Bancroft; age, 22; bom, Reading, Mass.; farmer; mustered
in as priv., Co. G, Aug. 12, '62; missing after May 8, '64; supposed to
have been killed.
Cyrus E. Barker; age, 23; born, Acton, Mass. ; powder-maker; mustered
in as priv., Co. H, July 19, '61; mustered out, Jan. 30, '63.
Thomas Barkley; age, 21; born. New Brunswick; plumber; mustered in
as priv., Co. C, July 24, '63; deserted, Aug. 16, '63.
Edward Barnard; age, 23; born, Boston; shoemaker; mustered in as
priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 6, '63.
William Barnes; age, 38; born, Marlboro', Mass.; hotel-keeper; mustered
in as sergt., Co. I, July 16, '61; mustered out as orderly sergt., April 23,
'63; wounded, Aug. 30, '62, at Manassas; promoted to ist sergt., Oct. 6,
'61; residence, Marlboro', Mass. '
William B. Barnes; age, 24; bom, Marlboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; resi-
dence, Marlboro', Mass.
William D. Barron; age, 22; bom, Wrentham, Mass.; bleacher; mustered
in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Nov. 25, '62.
Thomas Barry; age, 19; born, Nova Scotia; painter; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E, July 24, '61 ; mustered out, June 26, '62.
William F. Barry ; age, 18; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. A, Aug. 4, '62; killed, Sept. 17, '62.
Sidney BarSTOW; age, 19; born, Hanover, Mass.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, March 27, '63; residence, Lynn,
Mass.
Darwin F. BarTLETT; age, 27; bom, Boston; whitener and colorer; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence,
Boston, Mass.
396 THBEE TEARS IN THE ARMY.
Alexander BaSSETT; age, i8; born, Bassilboro', Me.; wood-turner; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. E, July 20, '61; deserted, July 25, '62.
Daniel K. BaTCHELDER; age, 46; bom, Landgrove, Vt.; gilder; mustered
in as priv., Co. D, July 16, '5l; mustered out, Jan. 20, '63; detached on
recruiting service in Boston; died, May 26, '91, at Reading, Mass.
N. Walter BaTCHELDER ; mustered in as lieut. -col., July 16, '61; resigned
as lieut. -col., April 15, '64; deceased.
George E. Bates; age, 19; born, Weymouth, Mass.; clerk; mustered in
as priv., Co. G, Aug. 18, '62; transferred to 39th Mass.; reenlisted in 13th,
Jan. 4, '62.
Henry Bates; age, 21; bom, Milford, Mass.; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out as corp., Aug. i, '64; residence, Mil-
ford, Mass.
John F. Bates; age, 26; born, Weymouth, Mass.; shoecutter; mustered
in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; taken prisoner
Dec. 13, '62; again at Gettysburg; residence, Weymouth, Mass.
Henry S. Battles; age, 24; born, Sudbury, Mass.; farmer; mustered in
as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; deserted, Sept. 14, '62.
Francis J. Baxter ; age, 30; born, Boston; finisher; mustered in as priv.,
Co. B, July 16,' 61; mustered out, Dec. 9, '62; died, '92.
SaVILLIAN E. Bazin ; age, 24; lx)rn, Dover, N.H.; paper-hanger; mustered
in as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence,
Boston.
JOSIAH H. BeaLES ; age, 29; born, Liverpool, Eng. ; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, Nov. 7, '62; wounded at
Rappahannock Station, Aug., '62.
John E. Bean; age, 18; born. Freedom, Me.; carpenter; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 16, '61; mustered out, Dec. 22, '62.
Samuel A. Bean; age, 27; bom, Mt. Vemon, Me.; shoemaker; mustered
in as Corp., Co. H, July 19, '61; mustered out as sergt., for promotion, July
I, '63.
W. A. S. Bean, Jr. ; age, 24; born, Portland, Me.; confectioner; mustered
in as priv., Co. E, July 20, '61 ; mustered out, Dec. 23, '62.
Walter P. Beaumont; age, 20; bom. Dexter, Me.; clerk; mustered in
as Corp., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out as sergt., April 24, '63; ap-
pointed 1st lieut., 8lh Unattached Co. H. A., Aug. 11, '63; capt., Co. G,
3d Regt. H. A., Jan. 17, '65; wounded, Aug. 30, '62, at Manassas; also
wounded at Battle of Washington; deceased.
James BeGLEY; age, 25; born, England; sailor; mustered in as priv., Co.
D, July 29, '63; mustered out, April 22, '64; transferred to the navy.
Clarence H. Bell; age, 18; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, July 28, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; detailed for duty at divi-
sion headquarters, Jan. 28, '63; residence, Boston, Mass.
Louis BeLOND; age, 25; bom, Belgium; shoemaker; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, July 28, '63; deserted, Aug. 17, '63.
James H. BelSER ; age, 29; bom, Inverness, Can. ; carpenter; mustered in
as Corp., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out for promotion, March 7, '63;
promoted to 2d lieut. 9th Regt. Colored Troops, March 7, '63; residence,
Marlboro', Mass.
THIRTEENTH MASS.- VOLS. 397
■ John BelSER; age 22; bom, Bakersfield, Vt.; teamster; mustered in as
priv., Co. F, July 27, '61; mustered out, Oct. 10, '62, for promotion in
another regiment.
John P. Bemis; age 20; bom, Lincoln, Mass. ; clerk; mustered in as priv. ,
Co. B, July 24, '61; deserted, Sept. 24, '61.
Charles S. Bennett; age, 30; bom, Stowe, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, July 25, '62.
ElIAS H. Bennett; age, 20; bom, Brighton, Mass.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; killed, Aug. 30, '62.
John A. Bennett; age, 21; bom, N. Rochester, Mass.; salesman; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, March 20, '63.
EbENEZER Benson; age, 24; bom, Ireland; laborer; mustered in as priv.,
Co. C, July 25, '63; deserted, Aug. 16, '63.
Herbert Bent; age, 21; bom, Suffolk, Mass. ; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence, Boston.
George O. Berry; age, 22; born, Tamworth, N.H.; currier; mustered in
as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; killed, Sept. 17, '62.
John F. Berry; age, 21; bom, Tamworth, N.H.; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 27, '63; residence,
Stoneham, Mass.
Nathaniel F. Berry; age, 28; bom, Gosport, N.H.; carpenter; mustered
in as priv., Co. H, Aug. 7, '62; mustered out, Aug. I, '64; wounded, July
I, '63.
Samuel Berry, Jr.; age, 24; born, Bangor, Me.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. 1, '64.
Thomas Berry; age, 22; born, Boston; printer; mustered in as priv., Co.
B, July 16, '61; deserted, Aug. 27, '62.
Charles BeRTSCH; age, 21; born, Germany; painter; mustered in as corp.,
Co. E, July 16, '61; transferred to Co. C, 22d V.R.C., March 3, '64; resi-
dence, Paul Gore street, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
SetH BeSSEY; age, 36; born. Bethel, Me.; butcher; mustered in as priv.,
Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Oct. 3, '62; residence, Reading, Mass.
John Best; age, 25; born, Boston; shoemaker; mustered in as priv., Co. G,
July 16, '61; mustered out as Corp., Aug. 1, '64; promoted to Corp., May
I, '63; wounded at Manassas, Aug. 30, '62; at Gettysburg July i, '63, and
at the Wilderness, May, '64; residence, Stoneham, Mass.
Abraham BiGELOW; age, 21; born, Natick, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. H, July 16, '61; mustered out as sergt., Aug. 1, '64; resi-
dence, Wellesley, Mass.
Chester A. BigeLOW; age, 18; bom, Sherburne, Mass.; musician; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. H, Feb. 24, '62; transferred to 39th Mass., July 13,
'64; taken prisoner at Gettysburg; mustered out, Feb. 24, '65; residence,
Wellesley, Mass.
Charles C. BiGELOW; age, 20; bom, Phillipston, Mass. ; farmer; mustered
in as priv., Co. B, July 20, '61; detached on division supply train, Dec. 2,
'62; deserted, July 20, '63; arrested and returned to duty on supply train.
June I, '64; desertion removed, Aug. I, '64.
Daniel R. BiGELOW; age, 25; bom, Hanover, N.H.; mason; mustered in
as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 2, '63.
398 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
Frank W. BigeLOW; age, 28; bom, Weston, Mass.; attorney-at-law; mus-
tered in as sergt., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out for promotion, Jan. 29,
'63, as capt. in the 4th N.Y. Cavalry; residence, Weston, Mass.
George E. BiGELOW; age, 22; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. C, Aug. 5, '62; died of wounds, Dec. 19, '62.
LoriNG BiGELOW ; age, 22; born, Quiney, Mass. ; clerk; mustered in as cor-
poral, Co. B, July 16, '61; died of wounds, Oct. 18, '62.
Charles H. Bingham; age, 23; born, Belfast, Me.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co.C, Aug. 6, '62; mustered out, Oct. I, '62; wounded at Antietam,
Sept. 17, '62; detailed, Dec, '62, at medical director's office, Washington,
subsequently at adjt.-gen.'s office, Washington; residence, Boston.
JabeZ a. Blackmer J age, 18; born, Mansfield, Conn.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out as capt., Nov. iS, '63.
William P. Blackmer; age, 31; clergyman; mustered in as capt., Co. K,
July 16, '61; resigned, Nov. 5, '61.
Edward Blake j age, 33; born. West Brookfield, Mass. ; butcher; mustered
in as priv., Co. H, July 16, '6:; mustered out, Aug. i, '64.
George A. Blake; age, 27; born, Dover, Mass.; painter; mustered in as
priv., Co. H, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence, Wellesley,
Mass.
Jeremiah P. Blake; age, 28; bom, Wakefield, N.H.; whitener; mustered
in as priv., Co. E, July 20, '61; mustered out as sergt., Aug. 1, '64;
wounded twice; promoted to sergt., March i, '63; residence, 10 North
ave., Boston.
Brainard p. BlaNCHARD; age, 18; bom, Baltimore, Md.; clerk; mustered
in as priv., Co. B, Aug. 13, '62; mustered out as 1st lieut., Aug. 7, '67;
commissioned as 1st lieut. U.S. Col. Inf., July 21, '64; wounded at Spott-
sylvania C.-H., May 11, '64; brev.-capt. U.S. Vols., March 13, '65.
John E. BlaNCHARD; age, 22; born, Holderness, N.H.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Dec. 13, '62.
Warren A. BlaNCHARD ; age, 23; born, Hallowell, Me.; clerk; mustered
in as priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; killed, Aug. 30, '62.
William F. BlanCHARD; age, 23; born, Boston; tailor; mustered in as
priv., Co. B, July 16, '61; transferred to 39th Mass., July, '64; appointed
2d lieut. 27th U.S. Colored Troops, Aug. 31, '64; ist lieut., April 6, '65;
brev.-capt., March 13, '65; wounded, Nov. 28, '61, Aug. 30, '62, Dec. 13,
'62, Oct. 27, '64; taken prisoner, July i, '63; recaptured, May 8, '64.
John J. BleULER; age, 28; born, Switzerland; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E, July 28, '63; transferred to 39th Mass., July 14, '63; wounded.
Reuben BlODGETT; age, 36; born, Tolland, Conn.; soap manufacterer; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. C, July 29, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64.
Edwin A. Blonde ; age, 27; born, Boston; painter; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out as corp., Aug. 1, '64; died at Boston,
July 28, '91.
Charles BluCHER; substitute; age, 20; born, Prussia; machinist; mustered
in as priv., Co. K, Aug. 3, '63; deserted, Sept. 19, '63.
Edward E. Bond; age, 17; born, Marlboro', Mass.; farmer; musteredin
as priv., Co. I, July 17, '61; killed, Aug. 30, '62.
THIKTEENTII MASS. VOLS. 399
Nathaniel BoSWORTH; age, 29; bom, Boston; machinist; mustered in as
priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; served at brigade
headquarters the last two years of the service; residence, Boston.
John A. Bowdwin; age, 21; bom, Boston; printer; mustered in as priv.,
Co. A, July 20, '61; mustered out as sergt., Aug. i, '64.
George H. Bowen; age, 25; born, Hopkinton, Mass.; clerk; mustered
in as priv., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 23, '63.
Theodore P. Bowker, Jr.; age, 20; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. A, July 16, '61; died of wounds, Nov. 12, '62.
Ira Bowman; age, 32; born, Littleton, N.H.; silversmith; mustered in as
priv., Co. D, Aug. 22, '62; died of wounds, Oct. 6, '62.
George B. BoyCE; age, 36; bom, Londonderry, N.H.; cabinetmaker;
mustered in as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Nov. 29, '62.
Edward A. Boyd; age, 25; bom, Newton, Mass.; painter; mustered in as
priv., Co. A, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. I, '64.
George B. Boyle; age, 25; born, England; machinist; mustered in as priv.,
Co. C, July 28, '63; deserted, Sept. 17, '63.
John Boyle ; age, 22; bom, England; boatman; mustered in as priv., Co. C,
July 28, '63; deserted, Aug. 16, '63.
John BraCKETT; age, 24; born, Ireland; sailor; mustered in as priv., Co. C,
July 22, '63; deserted, Aug. 21, '63.
Francis A. Bradbury; age, 24; bom, Newburyport, Mass.; grocer; mus.
tered in as priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; transferred, Nov. 15, '63, to V.R.C.
James E. Bradford; age, 23; bom. South Kingston, R.L; bootmaker;
mustered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; reported deserted, March 2, '63;
not returning from furlough; served as company musician.
David H. BraDLEE; age, 34; mustered in as adjt., July 16, '61; mustered
out as adjt., Aug. I, '61; deceased.
Thomas BraithWAITE; age, 27; born, England; chemist; mustered in as
priv., Co. H, Aug. 3, '63; transferred 39th Mass., July 14, '64.
Bartlett M. BramhaLL; age, 19; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 16, '63; detailed for duty at
War Department, Nov. 20, '63.
David Brand; age, 27; bom, Scotland; carpenter; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E., July 28, '63; transferred to navy, April 22, '64.
George N. BrIDGEWATER; age, 27; born, England; seaman; mustered in
as Corp., Co. F, July 16, '61; Nov. 16, '63, promoted to ist lieut. U.S.
Colored Troops.
John G. BriGGS; age, 34; bom, Dedham, Mass.; engineer; mustered in as
priv., Co. D,.July 16, '61; mustered out, June 22, '62; transferred to the
navy as engineer steamer signal " Western Flotilla."
William H. BriGGS; age, 18; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E, July 24, '62; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; address, Chickering's fac-
tory, Boston.
William R. BriGGS; age, 21; born, Woburn, Mass. ; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; wounded, July
3. '63.
William W. BrIGGS ; age, 41; born, Westmoreland, N.H.; mason; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. H, July 19, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64.
400 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
Alfred W. BriGHAM; age 22; born, Southboro', Mass.; clerk; mustered in
as Corp., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Oct. 22, '62; wounded twice,
Sept. 17, '62; commissioned 1st lieut. 7th Unattached Co., Mass. H.A.,
Aug. II, '63; capt., Co. C, 3d Regt. Mass. H.A., Oct. 13, '64; mustered
out, Sept. 18, '65; residence, 6 Berwick park, Boston.
Austin D. BriGHAM; age, 25; born, Marlboro', Mass.; dentist; mustered
in as priv., Co. I, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. I, '64.
Charles R. BriGHAM; age, 19; bom, Boston; shoemaker; mustered in as
priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, May 23, '62; died, Dec. 15, '86,
at Waupon, Wis.
Charles L. BriGHAM; age, 23; born, Marlboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out. May 19, '62; resi-
dence, Baltimore.
Edwin H. BriGHAM; age, 21; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. A, July 20, '61 ; mustered out, Feb. 24, '64; appointed hospital steward,
U.S.A., Feb. 24, '64, and reenlisted as such for three years from Feb. 24,
'67; residence, 19 Boylston place, Boston, Mass.
Francis A. BriGHAM; age, 22; born, Westboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, April 2, '62; after-
wards served in 51st Regt.; residence, Westboro', Mass.
George T. BrighaM; age, 17; born, Southboro', Mass.; printer; mustered
in as priv., Co. I, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. I, '64; residence,
Union, N.H.
Harrison M. BriGHAM ; age, 23; born, Grafton, Mass.; mechanic; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; transferred, Feb. 15, '64, to V.R.C.;
on detached duty since July 4, '62; residence, Westboro', Mass.
Henry J. BrIGHAM; age 25; born, Marlboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out as sergt., Aug. I, '64; died,
Aug., '65.
Sidney A. BriGHAM; age, 20; bom, Marlboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 14, '63; taken
prisoner, Aug. 30, '62, but paroUed in three days.
William F. BrIGHAM; age, 19; born. West Acton, Mass.; shoemaker;
mustered in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; died of wounds, July 18, '64;
promoted to corp.
John W. Brightwell; age, 18; born, Washington, D.C. ; clerk; mustered
in as priv., Co. A, Aug. 11, '62; mustered out as color corp., Aug. i, '64;
residence, Washington, D.C.
John M. Brock; age, 21; bom, Mexico, Me.; shoemaker; mustered in as
priv., Co. H, July 19, '61; killed, July I, '63.
OrvilLA L. Brock; 'age, 22; born, Bufield, Me.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. H, July 19, '61; mustered out. May 21, '62.
Amos H. BrONSDON; age, 38; born, Milton, Mass.; painter; mustered in
as priv., Co. A, Aug. 6, '62; died, Jan. 20, '63.
Albert F. Brooks ; age, 26; born, Boston; bookkeeper; mustered in as
priv., Co. A, July 29, '61; transferred, July 14, '64, to 39th Inf.; residence,
Washington, D.C.
Thomas BrOPHY; age, 21; bom. New York City; seaman; mustered in as
priv., Co. G, July 27, '63; sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, General Order 86,
First Army Corps, '63.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 401
James H. BrOUGHTON; age, 24; bom, Conway, N.H.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. G, July i5, '61; mustered out, Aug. 1, '64.
Abraham Brown; age, 35; bom, England; spinner; mustered in as priv.,
Co. A, July 27, '63; mustered out, Jan. 7, '64.
David Brown; age, 29; bora, Milford, Mass.; teamster; mustered in as
teamster, July 16, '61 ; mustered out as teamster, Aug. i, '64; detailed for
special duty in the quartermaster's department; residence, Milford, Mass.
Charles D. Browne; age, 22; born, Hinsdale, N.H.; clerk; mustered in
as private, Co.B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Nov. 18, '61; promoted to 2d
lieut. in the 29th Mass.
Cyrus H. Brown; age, 22; born, Stowe, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out as Corp., July 15, '64; promoted
to Corp., Sept. I, '62; transferred to V.R.C., Dec. 2, '63; residence, Hud-
son, Mass.
David Brown; age,* 29; born, Milford, Mass.; teamster; mustered in as
priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; on duty in quarter-
master's department during service; residence, Milford, Mass.
David L. Brown; age, 34; carpenter; mustered in as 2d lieut., Co. I, July
16, '61; resigned, March 13, '64; promotions: 1st lieut., July 25, '62;
capt., March 13, '64.
Francis Brown ; age, 24; born, Ireland; lather; mustered in as priv., Co.
C, July 25, '63; deserted, Aug. 16, '63.
Francis H. Brown; age, 19; born, Sudbury, Mass.; farmer; mustered
in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 16, '63.
Frank Brown; age, 23; bom, Nova Scotia; seaman; mustered in as priv.,
Co. G, July 28, '63; transferred to navy, April 23, '64.
Frank P. Brown; age, 23; bom, Manchester, Conn.; telegraph operator ;
mustered in as priv., Co. A, July 25, '63; transferred, July 14, '64, to 39th
Inf.
George Brown; age, 27; bom, New Brunswick; laborer; mustered in as
priv., Co. D, July 27, '63; transferred, July 14, '64, to 39th Inf.
George Brown; age, 23; bom, Portland, Me. ; farmer; mustered in as priv.,
Co. I, July 16, '61; reenlisted, Jan. 4, '64, and transferred to 39th Mass.;
wounded at Harper's Ferry, Sept., '62; wounded at Petersburg, Va., June,
'64; deceased.
John Brown ; age, 22; bom, New Jersey; carpenter; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, July 27, '63; deserted, Nov. 26, '63.
John Brown; age, 29; born, Marlboro', Mass.; mustered in as musician,
July 16, '61; mustered out as musician, Sept., '62.
Joseph Brown; age, 21; born, England; stonecutter; mustered in as priv.,
Co. G, July 27, '63; deserted, Aug. 19, '63.
Lyman W. Brown; age, r8; born, Marlboro', Mass.; farmer; mustered in
as priv., Co. H, July 19, '61; mustered out, April 15, '63.
William Brown; age, 35; bom, Scotland; sailor; mustered in as priv., Co.
D, July 27, '63; mustered out, April 22, '64; transferred to the navy.
William H. Brown ; age, 26; born, Framingham, Mass; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as 1st sergt., Co. H, July 19, '61 ; mustered out of 13th in order to
accept commission, Aug. 11, '62; appointed 2d lieut., 39th Mass., Aug.
19, '62, 1st lieut., Sept. 8, '64; residence, Natick, Mass.
402 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
Warren E. Bruce; age, 23; bom, Marlboro', Vt.; teamster; mustered in
as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. I, '64; on duty in quarter-
master's deptartment after March 13, '63.
Albert H. Bryant; age, 24; bom, Natick, Mass. ; physician; mustered in
as priv., Co. H, July 19, '61; mustered out, May 20, '62.
Solon A. BryaNI'; age, 23; born, Stoneham, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 24, '63; wounded at
Antietam, Sept. 17, '62; appointed 3d asst. engineer, U.S. Navy, Aug. 17,
'63; mustered out, Dec. 3, '65.
StILLMAN F. Bryant; age, 21; born, Westboro', Mass; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. 31, '62; de-
ceased.
Walter C. Bryant; age, 22; born, Tamworth, N.H.; clerk; mustered in
as private, Co. A, July 20, '61; mustered out, Nov. 27, '62; wounded, 2d
Bull Run; residence, Hyde Park, Mass.
Alexander W. BryER; age, 22; bom, Boston; rigger; mustered in as
priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. I, '64; detailed for duty in
hospital department.
William Buck; age, 27; born, Canada; hostler; mustered in as priv., Co.
B, July 25, '63; deserted, Aug. 20, '63.
William M. Buckman ; age, 20; borh, Woburn, Mass. ; clerk; mustered in
as Corp., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out as Corp., March 6, '63; pro-
moted to capt. in 80th U.S. Colored Troops; died at New Orleans, La.,
Sept. 27, '63.
Thomas J. BuffUM; age, 20; bom. No. Berwick, Me.; dry-goods dealer;
mustered in as priv., Aug. 8, '62; mustered out as Corp., Aug. i, '64; pro-
moted to Corp., June, '64; residence, Boston.
Charles F. Bulfinch; age, 19; born, Dahlonega, Ga.; clerk; mustered in
as priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; deserted, Jan. 20, '63; promoted to corp.,
before desertion.
George A. Bull; age, 19; bom, Hartford, Conn.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, Oct. 24, '62.
Silas B. Bull; age, 24; mustered in as musician, July 26, '61; mustered
out, Aug. 31, '62.
Emory Bullard; age, 37; bom, Westboro', Mass.; joiner; mustered in as
priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out. May 10, '62; residence, Boston,
Mass.
Samuel M. Bullard; age, 42; born, Franklin, Mass.; piano-forte maker;
mustered in as priv., Co. A, Aug. 27, '61; mustered out, June 20, '62.
William H. BuRDICK; age, 33; bom, Danvers, Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. G, Aug. 31, '61; mustered out, Jan. 29, '63.
John W. BuRDIIT; age, 30; bom, So. Reading, Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. I, '64; residence,
Wakefield, Mass.
Walter H. Burgess; age, 23; born. Providence, R.I.; machinist; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. F, Sept. i, '62; mustered out, March 19, '63.
JOHN Burke ; age, 25; born, Ireland; shoemaker; mustered in as priv., Co.
K, July 16, '61; deserted, July 26, '61.
Christopher Burke; age, 27; bom, Boston; laborer; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, July 28, '63; transferred, July 14, '64, to 39th Inf.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 403
John S. BuRNAP; age, 21; bom, Westboro', Mass.; painter; mustered in
as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; died, Dec. 10, '61.
George Burns J age, 21; bom, Ireland; sailor; mustered in as priv., Co. B,
July 28, '63; died, Dec, '63, Belle Isle, while a prisoner of war.
John Burns; age, 21; bom, Ireland; clerk; mustered in as priv., Co. E,
July 16, '61; deserted, Aug. 23, '61.
Thomas Burns; age, 19; bom. South Boston; milkman; mustered in as
priv., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, May 4, '62; deceased.
Alfred M. Burton; age, 18; born, Wilton, N.H.; carpenter; mustered
in as priv., Co. D, Sept. 10, '62; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; taken prisoner
at Gettysburg and paroled.
George Bush; age, 30; mustered in as 2d lieut., Co. A, July i, '61; killed,
April 30, '63; promotions: 1st lieut., Jan. 31, '62; capt., Feb. 27, '63.
Edwin P. BuSWELL; age, 24; born. Concord, N.H.; printer; mustered in as
priv., Co. C, Aug. 7, '62; mustered out, Oct. 7, '63; wounded, July i, '63.
AlONZO a. Butler; age, 27; born, Vermont; seaman; mustered in as
priv., Co. B, July 28, '63; mustered out, Jan. 21, '64.
Joseph E. Butman; age, 18; born, Framingham, Mass.; machinist; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. I, July 16, '61; transferred to V.R.C., Sept. 22, '63;
residence, Situate, Mass.
WlLLL\M H. BUTIERFIELD ; age, 21; born, Wayland, Mass.; shoemaker;
mustered in as priv., Co. H, July 19, '6z; mustered out, Feb. 18, '63.
Charles H. BuiterS; age, 22; born, Waltham, Mass.; clerk; mustered
in as priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, June 17, '62.
W. B. BuitERS; age, 18; bom, Wilmington, Mass.; farrier; mustered in as
priv., Co. G, Dec. 28, '63; transferred to 39th Mass.
Charles CaILLOUX; age, 27; born, Canada; tradesman; mustered in as
priv., Co. D, July 24, '63; deserted, Aug. 21, '63.
John CaLLAGHAN; age, 18; bom, Boston; farmer; mustered in as priv., Co.
G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 18, '63; wounded at Antietam, Sept.
17, '62.
Henry J. Callahan; age, 23; bom, Boston; printer; mustered in as priv.,
Co. I, July 16, '61; deserted, April 23, '63.
John Callahan; age, 18; born, Boston; farmer; mustered in as priv., Co.
E, July 29, '62; transferred to V.R.C., Sept. i, '63.
John Callahan; age, 18; bom, Ireland; shoemaker; mustered in as priv.,
Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 19, '63.
Walter CaLLENDAR; age, 26; bom. Sterling, Scotland; clerk; mustered
in as priv., Co. C, July 16, "61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64.
Hugh C. Campbell; age, 22; bom, King's Co., P.E.I. ; currier; mustered
in as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61 ; mustered out, Feb. 28, '63.
Edward CarBEAU; age, 30; born, Newfoundland; lumberman; mustered
in as priv., Co. E, July 27, '63; deserted, Dec. 20, '63.
Samuel S. CarLETON; age, 21; born, Claremont, N.H.; pattern-maker;
mustered in as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, June 2, '64; died,
of wounds received at Chancellorsville, May 4, '63.
John W. Carroll; age, 21; bom, Sanford, Me.; farmer; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 12, '63; address, Roxbury,
Mass.
404 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
Calvin H. Carter; age, 24; born, Berlin, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered
in as sergt., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Nov. 14, '62; wounded at
Manassas, Aug. 30, '62; declined commission; residence, Marlboro', Mass.
George CartiZE; age, 23; born, Corsica; ship-carpenter; mustered in as
priv., Co. D, July 27, '63; transferred, July 13, '64, to j9th Inf.
Joseph S. Gary; age, 29; born, Wayne, Me.; merchant tailor; mustered in
as capt., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 28, '63; deceased.
Samuel E. Cary; age, 21; bom, Wayne, Me.; clerk; mustered in as sergt.,
Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out as ist lieut.; promoted to Co. F, 2d lieut.,
Feb. 27, '63; promoted to ist lieut., Oct. 23, '63; residence. New York City.
William Howard CaRY; age, 31; bom, Ware, Mass; druggist; mustered
in as 2d lieut., Co. D, July 16, '61 ; mustered out as capt., Co. G, Aug. I,
'64; promoted to 1st lieut., Feb. 7, '62, capt., Dec. 30, '62; residence,
Boston.
John Casey; age, 22; bom, Ireland; laborer; mustered in as priv., Co. B,
July 29, '63; deserted, Aug. 20, '63.
Thomas Casey ; age, 22; bom, Ireland; currier; mustered in as priv., Co. B,
July 10, '63; killed, June 22, '64.
John R. Caswell; age, 25; born, Elliott, Me.; carpenter; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 16, '61; deserted, Aug. 30, '62.
James VV. ChaFFIN; age, 21; bom. Palmer, Mass.; teamster; mustered in as
priv., Co. I, March 27, '62; July 14, '64, transferred to 39th Mass.
A. E. Chamberlain; age, 24; bom, Southboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out, March 7, '63; wounded
at Antietam; residence, Holliston, Mass.; postmaster.
Dexter A. Chamberlain; age, 25; born, Southboro', Mass.; shoemaker;
mustered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; mustered out as corp., Aug. i,
'64; residence, Holliston, Mass.
Perry D. Chamberlain; age, 27; tanner; mustered in as 1st lieut., Co. H,
July 16, '61; resigned, Feb. 6, '62.
Spencer Chamberlain; age, 34; born. No. Woodstock, Conn.; boot-
maker; mustered in as priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i,
■64.
William R. ChaMPNEY ; age, 26; born, Boston; brass-finisher; mustered
in as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out as Corp., May 7, '63, on
account of wounds received at Antietam; residence, Winter Hill, Somer-
ville, Mass.
Joseph Chandler; age, 32; born, Lexington, Mass.; farmer; mustered in
as priv., Co. B, July 24, '61; mustered out, Jan. 17, '63.
Lorenzo A. Chapman; age, 34; born, Princeton, Mass.; bootmaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, Aug. 14, '62; mustered out, Aug. i, '64.
Henry Chase; age, 25; bom, Canada; pedler; mustered in as priv., Co.
C, July 25, '63; mustered out, Oct. 29, '63.
William Chase; age, 21; born, Albany, N.Y.; seaman; mustered in as
priv., Co. D, July 27, '63; transferred, July 13, '64, to 39th Inf.
David CheneRY, Jr. ; age, 23; bom, Watertown, Mass.; yeoman; mustered
in as priv., Co. A, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 27, '63; wounded at
battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, '62, while carrying the colors; residence, Bel-
mont, Mass.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 405
George S. Cheney; age, 35; born, Roxbury, Mass.; tinsmith; mustered
in as priv., Co. E, July 16, '61; mustered out. May 25, '63; wounded at
Sir John's Run, Md.
EZEKIEL W. Choate ; age, 25; born, Newburyport, Mass.; sailor; mustered in
as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Oct. 7, '62, Washington, D.C.
Robert Choate; age, 33; born, Riverdelieu, Can.; hatter; mustered in as
priv., Co. I, July 16, '61; mustered out, April 17, '63; deceased.
Oliver L. Child; age, 47; bom, Cambridge, Mass.; painter; mustered in as
priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; detailed at head-
quarters of brigade, July 6, '62.
John F. ChildS; age, 21; bom, Chesterville, Me.; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. I, March 11, '62; July 14, '64, transferred to 39th Mass.;
wounded at Gettysburg, July i, '63; residence, Natick, Mass.
John Christopher; age, 43; bom. New York City; machinist; mustered in
as priv., Co. E, Aug. i, '61; transferred to navy, Feb. 14, '62.
William H. P. Christopher; age, 19; bom, Brookfield, N.S.; clerk;
mustered in as priv., Co. I, July 21, '62; died, Sept. 18, '62, from wounds
received at Bull Run.
Edward Church; age, 28; born, Derby, Conn.; carpenter; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 16, '61; killed, July 3, '63.
Joseph Church; age, 25; born, Little Compton, R.I.; druggist; mustered
in as priv., Co. C, Aug. 28, '62; mustered out, April 16, '63; promoted to
1st lieut., 6th Rhode Island.
Wm. W. ClafLIN; surgeon; mustered in as asst. surg., April 29, '62; re-
signed, Dec. I, '62.
James C. ClaPP; age, 20; bom, Dorchester, Mass.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. A, July 16, '61; died, Jan. 4, '64.
George Clark; age, 18; bom, Oakdale, Mass.; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E, July 16, '61; killed, Aug. 28, '62.
John C. Clark; age, 21; born, Roxbury, Mass.; plumber; mustered in as
priv., Co. A, July 29, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence, 373
Dudley street, Boston, Mass.
William L. G. Clark; age, 24; born, Wayne, Me.; clerk; mustered in as
priv., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, March 25, '63; deceased.
William L. Clark; age, 34; merchant; mustered in as capt., Co. H, July
16, '61; resigned, July 24, '62; deceased.
William T. Clark; age, 19; born, Lowell, Mass.; student; mustered in
as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Feb. 27, '64; after battle of
Antietam was detailed for duty as clerk at various headquarters until dis-
charged, and then appointed as a clerk in adjt.-gen.'s office, Washington;
died, April 4, '88.
Patrick H. Cleary; age, 20; bom, Ireland (Drogheda); sailor; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, July 16, '61; died, April 2, '62, at Manassas.
James Clemens; age, 20; bom, Ireland; boatman; mustered in as priv., Co.
D, July 28, '63; transferred, July 13, '64, to 39th Inf.
Charles A. Clement; age, 21; bom, Andover, Mass. ; printer; mustered
in as priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; died of wounds, Sept. 30, '63; wounded
at Gettysburg.
406 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMT.
George W. Clifford; age, i8; bom, Derby Centre, Vt.; farmer's boy;
mustered in as priv., Co. K, Aug. i6, '62; mustered out as Corp., Aug.
I, '64; wounded, May 8, '64; residence, West Gardner, Mass.
James M. ClOUGH; age, 25; born, Bristol, N.H.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. H, July 16, '61; mustered out, March 28, '63.
Louis F. ClOUGH; age, 19; bom, Exeter, N.H.; machinist; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 24, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; virounded, July i, '63.
Edward W. Cody; age, 24; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as sergt.,
Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out as 1st lieut., Aug. 1, '64; residence,
Boston.
James Cody ; ^e, 32; born, Waterford, Ireland; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Dec. 29, '62; wounded at Manassas,
Aug. 30, '62.
Charles E. Coffin; age, 24; born, Berwick, Me.; manufacturer and
farmer; mustered in as priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, May 19,
'62; residence, Berwick, Me.
David B. Coffin; age, 21; born, Manchester, N.H.; clerk; mustered in
as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; residence, Win-
chester, Mass.
Henry C. Coffin; age, 29; bom, Shapleigh, Me.; cutter; mustered in as
priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 2, '63; residence, Boston.
Charles H. CogGINS; age, 26; bom, Natick, Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. H, July 16, '6l; killed, Aug. 30, '62.
Charles E. Colburn; age, 18; born, Dedham, Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. H, July 16, '61; killed. May 8, '64.
Joseph Colburn ; age, 29; merchant; mustered in as 1st lieut., July 16, '61;
promoted to capt., Feb. 3, '63; major, 59th Mass., Oct. 23, '63.
Joseph W. ColcORD; age, 18; bom, Honolulu, S. I.; student; mustered in
as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; transferred to V.R.C., Jan. 15, '64.
Seth L. Cole ; age, 26; mustered in as priv., Co. C, July 16, '61 ; mustered
out, Aug. I, '64; detailed at headquarters 1st Corps and at General Grant's
headquarters; residence, Gloucester, Mass.
Edward Coleman; age, 21; born, England; seaman; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E, July 25, '63; transferred to navy, April 22, '64.
Eugene B. Coleman; age, 19; born, Boston; mustered in, July 16, '61;
deserted, Aug. 16, '61.
Charles H. Collins; age, 18; bom, Southboro', Mass.; provision dealer;
mustered in as priv., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; de-
ceased.
John Collins; age, 18; born, Southboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. K, March 19, '62; mustered out, Sept. 25, '65, Albany; trans-
ferred to i8th Co., 2d Batt., V.R.C.; residence, HoUiston, Mass.
John C. Collins; age, 25; bom, Ireland; seaman; mustered in as priv.,
Co. B, July 29, '63; deserted, Nov. 26, '63.
John M. Collins; age, 21; born, Boston; telegrapher; mustered in as
priv., Co. I, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64.
Lowell T. Collins; age, 29; born, Southboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K, Feb. 6, '62; mustered out, Feb. 17, '64;' resi-
dence, Southboro', Mass.
THIRTEENTH MASS. VOLS. 407
Luke Collins; age, 44;- bom, Southboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 11, '63; died, June I, '88.
Charles ColliS; age, 20; born, Boston; music clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. C, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; detailed at headquarters
of the Provost Marshal General, Army of the Potomac; residence, 26
Broadway, N.Y.
Charles W. ComSTOCKJ age, 18; bom, Westboro', Mass.; laborer; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. K.July 16, '61; mustered out as Corp., Aug. i, '64;
residence, Upton, Mass.
Albert ConaNTJ age, 22; born, Stowe, Mass.; farmer; mustered in as
priv., Co. H, July 16, '61; deserted, Aug. 9, '61.
C. H. Conant; age, 20; bom, Stoneham, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered in
as priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out as corp., Aug. 1, '64; pro-
moted to Corp., June l, '64; residence, Stoneham, Mass.
Daniel S. Condon ; age, 24; bom, Ireland; painter; mustered in as priv.,
Co. A, July 24, '63; transferred, March 6, '64, to V.R.C.
William Connell; age, 23; born, New York City; butcher; mustered in
as priv., Co. E, July 27, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64.
Charles W. Cook; age, 24; bom, Portsmouth, N.H.; mustered in as
priv., July 16, '61; mustered out. May 29, '63. Was sent from Front
Royal, Va., with typhoid fever to Carver hospital, Irom which place he was
furloughed to Boston, where he was discharged.
Freeman J. Cook; age, 19; bom, Boston; carpenter; mustered in as sergt.,
July 17, '6l; mustered out as ist sergt., Aug. i, '64; died, Feb. 28, '68.
George F. Cook; age, 15; born, Reading, Mass.; musician; mustered in as
musician, Co. G, Aug. 11, '62; mustered out, Sept. 25, '62.
Henry E. Cook; age, 26; bom, Newton, Mass; wood-carver; mustered
in as priv., Co. D, July 16, '61. Sent to hospital sick in Dec, '61. All
traces of him lost since that time. No further record.
John E. Cook; age, 23; born, Roxbury, Mass.; machinist; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. I, '64.
John F. Cook; j^e, 18; born, Reading, Mass.; painter; mustered in as
priv., Co. G, July 16, '61; mustered out, Aug. i, '64; wounded at Gettys-
burg, July I, '63.
Frank CoOLIDGE; age, 25; born, Sherborne, Mass.; farmer; mustered in as
priv., Co. H, July 16, '61; mustered out as Corp., Aug. i, '64; pro-
moted to Corp., March 18, '63; residence. Riverside, Cal.
Ledra a. CoOLIDGE ; age, 24; bom, Marlboro', Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out as principal musician,
Feb., '63.
Silas A. CoOLIDGE; age, 20; born, Bolton, Mass.; shoemaker; mustered
in as priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out, Oct. II, '62; regnlisted, Co.
D, S9th Mass., Feb. 9, '64, and died July i, '64.
Samuel A. Coombs ; age, 22; born, Boston; pump-maker; mustered in as
priv., Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, April 23, '63; residence, Somer-
ville, Mass.
William M. Coombs; age, 20; born, Salem, Mass.; draughtsman; mustered
in as Corp., Co. B, July 16, '61; mustered out as ist sergt., Aug. i, '64;
promoted to sergt., Nov., '63; ist sergt., June, '64; in charge of brigade
408 THREE YEARS IN THE ARMY.
cattle guard from June, '62, to Oct., '63; residence, 16 Paris St., East
Boston.
Thomas Cooper; age, 20; born. New York City; printer; mustered in as
priv., Co. E, July 28, '63; transferred to 39th Mass., July 14, '64.
John CopELAND; age, 20; bom, Ireland; laborer; mustered in as priv., Co.
K, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 7, '63; afterwards enlisted in 57th
Mass. and killed at Wilderness, May, '64.
Thomas CoPELAND ; age, 18; born, Ireland; laborer; mustered in as priv.,
Co. K, July 16, '61; killed, Aug. 30, '62, at Bull Run.
William CorDWELL; age, 31; bom, Boston; boot-finisher; mustered in as
2d sergt., Co. K, July 16, '61; promoted 2d lieut., Feb. 14, '63; killed op-
posite Fredericksburg, April 30, '63.
Benjamin Corliss; age, 27; bom, Natick, Mass.; shoemaker, mustered in
as priv., Co. H, July 16, '61; name was stricken from the roll by Capt.
Clarke, Aug. 12, '61; was sent home sick by Col. Leonard from Perth Am-
boy, July 31, '61.
John CoSTIN; age, 22; bom. Prince Edward Island; saddler; mustered in as
priv., Co. C, July 16, '61; deserted, May 6, '63.
Charles H. CotTING; age, 20; born, Bedford, Mass.; shoemaker; mus-
tered in as sergt., Co. I, July 16, '61; promoted to 2d lieut., sgth Mass.
Inf., Dec. 16, '63; residence, Lynn, Mass.
Robert Cowie; age, 26; bom, Scotland; blacksmith; mustered in as priv.,
Co. E, July 20, '61; promoted to Corp.; transferred, March 10, '64, to
V.R.C.
SeTH W. Cowing; age, 34; bom, Dighton, Mass.; mariner; mustered in as
priv., Co. A, Sept. 5, '62; mustered out, Nov. 6, '62; commissioned lieut.
in the nth R.I. Vols., Nov. 6, '62.
George E. Craig; age, 28; mustered in as quartermaster, July 16, '61;
mustered out, Aug. I, '64; residence, Walpole, Mass.
Silas P. Crane ; age, 27; born, Boston; grocer; mustered in as priv., .Co.
B, July 16, '61; mustered out, Jan. 23, '63; wounded, Aug. 30, '62.
Andrew T. Crawley; age, 21; born, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, Dec. 6, '62.
William H. Crawley ; age, 19; bom, Boston; clerk; mustered in as priv.,
Co. D, July 16, '61; mustered out, July 26, '62.
Horace L. Crocker; age, 19; bom, Barnstable, Mass.; clerk; mustered
in as priv., Co. I, July 16, '61; died, March 18, '62, at Centerville, Va., of
fever.
John H. Crocker ; age, 20; born, Charlestown, Mass.; clerk; mustered
in as priv., Co. A, July 16, '61; mustered out, Dec. 30, '62; residence,
San Francisco, Cal.
George L. Crosby; age, 28; born, Marlboro', Mass.; artist; mustered in as
priv., Co. F, July 16, '61; mustered out as corp., Nov. 20, '62; afterwards
1st lieut. 5th Mass. (100 days) regiment; residence, Washington, D.C.
J. Q. Crosby; age, 29; bom, Manchester, N.H.; shoemaker; mustered in
as p
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