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diff --git a/34889.txt b/34889.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a93ed4 --- /dev/null +++ b/34889.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1649 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Reminiscences, Incidents, Battles, Marches +and Camp Life of the Old 4th Michigan Infantry in War of Rebellion, 1861 to 1864, by O. S. Barrett + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Reminiscences, Incidents, Battles, Marches and Camp Life of the Old 4th Michigan Infantry in War of Rebellion, 1861 to 1864 + +Author: O. S. Barrett + +Release Date: January 8, 2011 [EBook #34889] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REMINISCENCES, INCIDENTS *** + + + + +Produced by Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from +images generously made available by The Internet +Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + REMINISCENCES, INCIDENTS, BATTLES, + MARCHES and CAMP LIFE + OF THE + OLD 4th MICHIGAN INFANTRY + IN WAR OF REBELLION, + 1861 TO 1864. + + By O. S. BARRETT, + Late Lieut. Co. B, 4th Michigan Infantry. + + + _Dedicated to the Survivors of the Regiment._ + + + Hope for the living, + Tears for the dead. + + + DETROIT, MICH.: + W. S. OSTLER, PUBLISHER, + 1888. + + + + +THE FOURTH REGIMENT + +Michigan Volunteer Infantry + + +was organized at Adrian, Michigan, and Mustered into United States +Service June 20, 1861, for three years. It was quartered in the North +College building, of the group of buildings situated at extreme west +suburbs of City. Was commanded by Dwight A. Woodbury. It was presented +by the ladies of Adrian, with a beautiful flag. The Regiment left its +Rendezvous June 25th, for Washington, numbering on its rolls 1025, +officers and men. In his orders for the movement, Colonel Woodbury +said: "Let each man remember that he has the honor of Michigan in his +keeping." The first appearance of the Regiment, while passing through +Cleveland, Ohio, brought from the Leader of that city, the following +notice of + + +MICHIGAN TROOPS. + +"When we see the splendidly armed and equipped Regiments from +Michigan, pass through here on their way to the seat of war, and +compare their appearance with that of the Regiments that left Camp +Cleveland recently, it makes us almost ashamed of Ohio, and inclines +us to enquire in the mildest and most collected manner, why it is that +Michigan in the same length of time sends Regiments to the field +prepared for service, while Ohio, who boasts of her enterprise and +patriotism, sends from her camps as Regiments, mere mobs of men, half +uniformed, unarmed, and wholly without drill." + +The Regiment left Cleveland, via Buffalo to Elmira, New York, where we +took supper with 23d New York Regiment in barracks there. We were +royally entertained; had a good time; had a good supper. I wish to say +here, the first hard tack the writer ever saw was issued to us at +Cleveland. They were round, and as large as an elephant's foot, and as +tough as a prohibitionist's conscience. I noticed some of the boys, +out on platform of cars, trying how far they could sail them. Others +had coupling pins, trying to pulverize them. On leaving Elmira, some +of the boys who were a little off, pulled the coupling pin, which +detached three or four cars. The rest of the train pulled out some +distance before it was discovered. The advance section backed up, the +rear cars were hitched on, and the boys were induced to all-aboard, +and the train passed on to Harrisburg, Pa. The Regiment encamped a few +days at that city, and we were drilled in the art of street fighting, +expecting a collision at Baltimore. The people of Harrisburg asked: +"has Michigan sent another Regiment equipped?" And in fact the troops +at Camp Curtin "thought if Pennsylvania would only clothe her men like +that, she would not have a single citizen at home." + +From Harrisburg, on to Baltimore. The Regiment was disembarked from +the cars some distance outside of the city; formed and marched into +the depot. We were armed with old buck and ball muskets, and were not +allowed but three rounds of cartridges. The Regiment was formed into +platoons, and marched through the general thoroughfare to Washington +Depot. On its way, while about midway, the crowd was immense on the +sidewalks, a demonstration was made by some crank of a Rebel, at a +point opposite our colors, pointing a revolver toward the flag-bearer, +but was suppressed so quick that it was not seen but by few of the +Regiment. The writer was a file-closer and in rear of rear platoon, +and saw the movement. Had that pistol been discharged, the result +would have been a terrible indiscriminate slaughter. My gun was on a +line with the act in less time than it would take to pull a trigger. +Somebody would have been hurt. Men hissed and jeered, but the column +moved on to Washington Depot, where the Regiment was embarked on cars +for Washington. Just before reaching the Relay House, the train was +stopped and we were told that Rebels were in our front. We were formed +in line of battle. It was a false alarm. We got aboard again, and +passed on to Washington. Arrived in that city on the night of July 2d, +and soon went into camp on Meridian Hill, near Soldiers' Home. +Remained in camp until a short time before first battle of Bull Run. +The Regiment was ordered over the Potomac, and to Alexandria, and out +to a place called Cloud's Mills. Remained in camp there, and done +picket duty until a few days prior to first Bull Run, when it was +ordered on to Fairfax Station, in rear of advancing army. The left +wing of the Regiment was detained at that place, while the right was +marched to Fairfax Court House. The writer was with the part remaining +at the station. It was evident that the Rebels had left in a hurry, as +the advance of our column appeared; they had tried to burn the station +and other property, but were prevented by stress of time. We found +plenty of corn meal; also a number of hogs that had been corralled in +the rear of the station, but had been let out of the pen; on arrival +of our men in pursuit, they were running around loose. The writer +fired six shots at an old hump-backed sow, and got nary a swine. One +W. W. Carpenter, the liliputian of Company B, killed her with one shot +from an old Colt's revolver. We had mush and fresh pork in abundance. +We found some cows on an abandoned plantation, near by. Also plenty of +honey. We had mush and milk 'till you couldn't rest. One of the boys, +while reconnoitering around, developed a colony of bees. He seized a +hive and started for a brook near by. He attempted to jump a pole +fence. His toe caught and he pitched headlong. The hive flew twenty +feet. The bees followed back, and swarmed in his bushy hair, which +caused a lively rush for the water. He plunged in and soon divested +himself of the vicious little insects. But not daunted he returned, +and seized the hive again. This time he succeeded in drowning the +bees. He got the honey all the same. That night, after the adventure +with the bees, myself and my bunkey tore some of the hives to pieces, +and placed the boards on the ground, and spread our blankets on them +for our bed. We went to bed tickled with our layout. About twelve +o'clock we were aroused with injunction to keep very still, as Rebels +were near, and were expected to attack us. My bunkey and I got up, or +sat up. About that time I saw bunkey slap his legs, and heard him +swear. + +About the same time, I felt an unusual sensation under my pants, in +the region of where I sat down. There were plenty of live bees still, +that had staid with the boards. They had crawled inside our clothes, +and everlastingly stuck it to us. Well, if you ever saw an Indian war +dance, picture to yourself our appearance. We were ordered to keep +still; but had a Brigade of Rebels attacked us, we would have fought +these bees. + +Next day was fought the first Battle Bull Run. We were ordered to join +the other wing of the Regiment, at Fairfax Court House, arriving just +before the stragglers began to appear from our defeated army. We were +formed in the road, in sections, and ordered to stop all stragglers. +Talk of stopping a cyclone; it was impossible. The rush of soldiers, +congressmen, and other civilians, from Washington, literally forced us +from the highway. I saw three officers on one mule, hatless, coatless, +and unarmed, and apparently badly frightened; the Johnnies did not +follow up with any force. The 4th was soon on the way to Washington. +We returned to our old camp, on Meridian Hill. Early in fall of '61, +the Regiment built fort Woodbury, on Arlington, and done picket duty. +Later on, we were moved out to Minor's Hill, Virginia, and built +winter quarters, and remained there during the winter 1861-2. The +Regiment, with 14th New York, 9th Massachusetts, and 62nd +Pennsylvania, formed 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, +commanded by Fitz John Porter, a brave and skilfull officer, who was +afterwards much abused; for I believe we had no more loyal officer in +the field; to the contrary notwithstanding, his traducers tried to +drag him down. Nothing of a startling nature occurred here, during the +winter. Our time was occupied in picket, camp, guard, and other +routine work. A laughable incident occurred here in camp, which +illustrates the desire of the common soldier + + +FOR FUN AND FROLIC. + +[Illustration: {A soldier with a gun-sling in the firing position.}] + +We were armed with the old Buck and Ball musket, which we were to +exchange for the Enfield rifles. Word was given to the different +companies to send details for guns. The Company B detail was +dispatched. Soon the boxes were brought, and opened. Behold a mistake +had been made, and the boys thought on purpose. Instead of the +Enfield, the boxes contained the same kind of guns we already had. The +men were indignant, and refused to accept them, but finally concluded +to use them awhile, as they were new and bright. The guns were +distributed, and boxes ordered back, a procession formed a la +funeral. An escort, with reversed guns, and music, and every +conceivable thing that any noise could be got out of, followed to +Quarter master's depot. A volley was fired over the boxes, and the +procession returned to quarters. Soon, a racket was heard in vicinity +of Company B. Every other man had a gun sling around his body, and was +down on all-fours. The other fellows had a gun thrust between the +gun-sling and along the man's spine, firing blank cartridges. As soon +as the gun was fired, the man on the ground would assume a sitting +posture, with the muzzle up. Then the gunner would ram cartridge, and +the gun would immediately assume the horizontal, again to be fired. +There were some 40 of the company engaged in this. That night, after +the racket, the 14th New York's Sutler lost a barrel of whiskey, +rolled out from under his tent early in the evening, while the +proprietor was engaged in front with a special delegation sent to +occupy him and his assistants, while the feat was being performed. It +never was found, but you could buy a canteen-full for $5.00 of one who +knew where it was. Details were made to hunt for it, but it was never +brought to view, but some of the detail were quite drunk when they +returned. I will relate an incident that occurred while encamped on +Arlington, as stated before in this narrative: while stationed there, +we were daily beset by hucksters and traffickers. They would vend +their wares to the boys, and go away, apparently happy, but soon +return again, seeming to be dissatisfied with what they received for +their goods. One day, a pompous Jew drove over from Georgetown, a big +wagon-load of goods drawn by four-in-hand. Sales were small until he +struck Company B, the writer's company. Here he cried his wares. +Finally a syndicate was formed, and approached the vender of goods, +with the proposition to buy his entire stock. They would give so +much, provided he had a certain amount of the ardent in his outfit. He +seemed to be satisfied with the situation, and answered, he had what +they desired. The bargain was closed, and money paid in bills. Our +goods were unloaded, and he departed, highly elated. But it was not +long. He soon returned, alone, and inquired of the writer for the +Colonel's tent. The writer edged around, as near as possible, to hear +what was said. The Jew was swinging his arms, and gesticulating +fiercely. The Colonel listened until he got through, then I heard him +say, in reply, "you ought to be satisfied with small profits on so +large a sale." He replied: "Colonel, the monish is not good, it is one +Erie and Kalamazoo monish." The Colonel told him the result was as +good as the intent, and dismissed him, and we did not see him again. +The boys bought him out slick and clean, for 600 dollars, and paid him +in new and crisp Michigan Insurance and older bills of Erie and +Kalamazoo. I will say, Company B, was made up of one or two doctors, +as many lawyers, and one preacher, and the rest were gentlemen. The +writer was identified with the latter class. + +[Illustration: {The salesman and the Colonel.}] + + +THE REGIMENT MOVED. + +With the advance of the army from Minor's Hill, and to Fairfax, passed +beyond that dilapidated and dingy looking town, historical, much +speculation indulged in, in regard to what route would be adopted "On +to Richmond." It was finally decided to take the route via Alexandria +down the Potomac to Fort Monroe. Accordingly, the columns were put in +motion, and in due time the army arrived at above named place. Our +Division passed out beyond Hampton, and went into camp, for a few days, +then marched en route to Yorktown, by way of Big Bethel. On our arrival +within cannon shot of Rebel fortifications, we were greeted by a +general shower of shot and shell, from Rebel Batteries, which went +screeching and screaming over our heads. The 4th had the advance at +the right, toward the Rebel Left. As we drew nearer, they got our +range. Their shot plunged and shells burst in and all around us with +but little damage, but made the situation decidedly unpleasant. Our +column filed to the right, following a ravine, which extended to +extreme left of Rebel Earthworks. General Charles Griffin commanded our +Division, and his old battery was on hand, that he had formerly +commanded. He immediately ordered it to the front, out in open space, +and commenced shelling the Rebel works. Cannonading was lively for a +while, on both sides. The Rebels evidently misunderstood the +demonstrations, so audaciously made in their front, and expected an +immediate assault all along the line. They apparently reserved their +fire for closer work, but were disappointed in that. The army settled +down to a siege. We were constantly under fire, from time of arrival in +front of their works, until evacuation of same, on picket line, bivouac +and skirmishing. No let up night and day. Casualties were quite +frequent. If a picket guard showed his head it was a target as soon as +seen. Picketing was extremely dangerous business. The guard were posted +under darkness of night and was relieved the same. In front of Rebel +works was an open plain. The boys would dig holes, under cover of +darkness, and through the day would burrow like gophers. Hence gopher +holes, had dirt piled up in front with a hole at base, for to shoot +through. Was death to the man who got his cranium above the obstruction +in front of him. A thrilling incident occurred at this time. General +Fitz John Porter, who commanded the 5th corps, went up in a balloon to +take observations of rebel works. It was controlled by ropes, held by +men on the ground. After getting up the right distance, the guy became +detached, through some cause, and the balloon floated at will, first +over Rebs, then back on our side, swayed by the wind. All this while, +Porter could be seen standing up in the car, with spy glass in hand, +scanning the Rebel fortifications; and the Johnnies everlastingly +yelling, and trying to elevate their guns to reach him, but failed. The +elevation was too steep for their gunnery. Finally he descended to our +side, amid shouts of the whole army. It was hard telling at one time +into what hands he would fall. The siege went on. A heavy water battery +of one hundred pounders was placed on York River, at the extreme left +of Rebel works. The 4th was stationed at that point. These guns were +worked spasmodically. Rebs could not reply to them. York River, at this +point, was full of oysters--some the largest I ever saw. We often went +in after a supply. It was dangerous business. The Rebel pickets, on +opposite side, were alert and invariably fired on any one who had the +hardihood to approach the water for them. The writer ventured in one +day for some of the bivalves, and was industriously searching for the +precious article. I succeeded in exhuming a monster big one, and was +looking for more, when zip, pinge, came the warning to get out. I was +in such a hurry I forgot to take along my find, and you could not see +my coat tail for the water splashing behind me. I did not want any more +oysters on that special occasion. Yorktown was evacuated on the night +of May 4th and 5th, 1862; our army had been to vast labor, and the +government to tremendous expense and worry. A bloody battle was fought +at Williamsburg; the 4th were not engaged at that battle. We were sent +via West Point, and followed on to Chickahominy. The time occupied +between Yorktown and our arrival at the Chickahominy, was marching, and +camping under great hardships; mud and heat had to be contended with. +When within a few miles of Chickahominy, the 4th was detached from the +column, and in a pouring rain, were hustled on to the river. When +within half a mile of it we met a squadron of cavalry, which had been +to the point, came back full well. We were ordered, "Battalion into +line, double quick;" my company being on the left, did some tall +running over bogs, ditches and small brush, to get our place in line. +We struck the river at New Bridge, and met a sharp fire from opposite +side. We were dressed up under this fire. Our first man was killed +here, A. M., D. Piper, of Company B. He was shot dead. He was the +largest man in the company. I was first sergeant at the time, and +touched elbows with him when he fell. The boys named him Elephant, on +account of his immense size. Our Colonel, D. A. Woodbury, seeing our +disadvantage, rode his horse down to the river and ordered us to cross. +At this time the Johnnies were seen to get to the woods beyond. About +20th of May my company plunged into the water, arm-pits deep. Company A +crossed over to the right, in a bend of the river. We found 28 dead +rebels in our immediate front. We brought over some wounded rebels, and +on our return the water was chin deep to the writer, it having rained +all this time heavily. There were four or five of my company wounded. +The rebels had taken the plank from the bridge, and ranged two pieces +of cannon on the same. We held this point as a picket line until battle +of Gains Mills. The crossing of Chickahominy occurred on May 24th, +1862. + +Here I first saw Custer. He was sent by McClellan to assist our +cavalry in conducting the establishment of picket lines at New Bridge. +He crossed the river four times, on horseback, to my certain +knowledge. He encouraged us boys with the example, and his cheering +remarks, such as go in Wolverines, give them h--l, and we did. The +Johnnies outnumbered us six to one, but they were deceived in our +strength, supposing us to be a regular advance of our army. I am +pained to read of the deprecating language of Major Reno, 7th Regiment +Cavalry, in regard to the gallant Custer. + +This fight caused General McClellan to dispatch to the War Department, +the following: "Three skirmishes to-day. We drove the Rebels from +Mechanicsville, seven miles from New Bridges. The 4th Michigan about +used up the Louisiana Tigers. Fifty prisoners, and fifty killed and +wounded." + +Mr. Greeley, in his American Conflict, says: "The first collision on +the Chickahominy, between the advance of McClellan's army and the +Rebels, occurred near New Bridge, where the 4th Michigan, Colonel +Woodbury, waded the stream and assaulted and drove off a superior +force, losing but eight men in all, and taking thirty-seven prisoners, +of whom fifteen were wounded." After establishing line of pickets on +or along the river, the regiment went into camp on Gains' Farm, on +left bank of Chickahominy, about one mile from river. Soon after, the +battle of Fair Oaks was fought in plain sight of our camp. It +continued 'till early in the evening. We could see the flash of +bursting shells and vomiting cannon. The excitement among the men of +the regiment was very manifest. It is certainly pleasanter, at a +distance, to witness a battle, than to participate in one. Distance is +more agreeable than being too intimate with the struggle. + +An advance from our position, at that time, was contemplated upon +Richmond. A heavy rainstorm was raging at the time. The regiment stood +in ranks all one day, in this rain--so did the whole army--waiting +orders to cross the Chickahominy. The flats each side of the river +were flooded from two to four feet deep. Whirling and seething in its +course, it was impossible to cross, and had to be abandoned. A howl +went up all over the north, because of the failure, but was not +attributed to the high water, but to cautiousness or cowardice of the +commander. It could not be done in the face of such difficulties. If +ever there was an interposition of Providence, it was manifested at +that time, for if we had crossed the river with the view of attacking +Richmond, I believe the Army of the Potomac would have ceased to exist +as an organization. Picketing and camp routine was daily gone through +with at this time; but little excitement, and nothing startling +occurred. I think, May 27th, a column was marched to Hanover Court +House to our right and rear. It was reported the Rebels were +threatening our base. The 4th Regiment was a part of the troops +composing that movement. We marched to Hanover. The front and rear of +the column had a fight with the Johnnies. The 4th was but slightly +engaged. The 9th Massachusetts, one of our brigade, had a lively chase +after the enemy,--charged them out of a piece of woods, and down a +grade, towards a railroad, via Hanover and Richmond. The 44th New York +were badly cut up, being the regiment in the rear of the column that +the Rebels attacked with great fury. The 44th stood their ground with +great bravery and determination until assistance arrived. The enemy +was driven off, and the column returned to camp. Company B, of the +4th, acted as flankers on the return to camp, 14 miles away. By the +way, the duties of flankers are very tedious and arduous, especially +over a rough country, and is attended with a good deal of danger. On +our way back, when near camp, the regiment halted in the road, with +low hanging trees on one side of the road (the flankers had been +called in,) with thick underbush. Some telegraph wires were laying +along on the limbs. Some mischievous fellow in the rear drummed with +his gun on them, causing a vibration of sound similar to a noise +caused by a charging mule team running away. The result was, the road +was vacated in two seconds. The writer jumped, and supposed he was +jumping up grade, but instead, jumped 20 feet down grade, into a hole. +The scare was over, and the column soon made camp. Many lost their +caps, the writer among the rest. I distinctly saw the colonel and +adjutant's horses leap a ditch fence on the north side of the road. If +I could have known the fellow who caused the stampede, I think I could +have mauled him--and think I would, had I caught him. As it is, the +friction is now worn off, and he is safe. I will say, the column was +marching left in front. That put the writer's company to the front. +Hence the scare at our end of the regiment. The army indulged in a +grand review at this place. General Prim, the Spanish Patriot, was +present, and, I think, President Lincoln, but am not positive as to +the latter being present. The little general humped around after Mac., +who was a splendid rider--none were more accomplished than Little Mac. +Prim was not used to such rough ground and hard riding, hence his +unsteady seat. While in camp, our quartermaster thought to regale us +with the luxury of dried apple pies, shortened with bacon grease. He +had procured a portable oven, and dispensed his goodies to the boys, +at twenty five cents a small section. The writer remembers of being +very sick from eating pie, in fact, the only time he remembers of +being sick, until subsequently, after being wounded at Gettysburg. + +And now comes the tug of war. Up to this time the regiment had not +suffered very serious loss. True, many were sick; some had been +discharged; but the regiment showed a good front. The history, from +June 26th, 1862, of the regiment, is steeped in blood, with heavy +loss. Many were sent to their last muster out, and now, after the +lapse of a quarter of a century, the roster is nearly closed. + +June 26th, 1862, the regiment, with the rest of the brigade, was +formed in column, and marched out to Mechanicsville, and engaged in +battle with traitors to this good country. The battle was short and +sharp, without much advantage to either side. It was the prelude to +one of the bloodiest battles of the war,--Gains' Mill. June 27th, +1862, the regiment, with others, left our camp, abandoned everything +except our knapsacks and guns, marched out and formed line of battle, +near Gains' Mill. The Rebels soon took possession of our deserted +camp, rioted awhile on what was left,--whiskey, hard-tack, and other +commodities. About ten A. M. they came down on us without skirmishers, +with guns at a right shoulder arms, and drunk. They came to be +slaughtered, and they got it, then and there. The carnage was +terrible. The battle raged all day, until dark. Men, of human form +divine, became demons, fought like wild beasts, and with not much more +intelligence on the traitors' side. Many of the regiment went down. + +The next day, loved ones, true as steel, were missing, and never again +answered to human roll call. And on to other battles, the regiment was +baptised in blood again. Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, and on to +Malvern. On the 30th of June, the army arrived at Malvern Hill, tired, +worn, and hungry. The enemy followed up and attacked in the afternoon, +but were easily repulsed. July 1st was the climax of battles. The +enemy attacked with great fury; the battle raged all day with great +slaughter, on both sides. Charge after charge was indulged in by the +persistent foe, to be hurled back bleeding in every form. The thunder +of cannon was awful; clash of arms, shouts of combatants, was +deafening. Such a seething hell will never be again enacted on this +continent. It would be impossible to repeat it, in all its details. +The enemy drew off, and the Army of the Potomac passed on to +Harrison's Landing, on the James River. The regiment lost its brave +Colonel Dwight A. Woodbury, the bravest of the brave. His last words +were, "hold them, boys." He was shot in the forehead and died almost +instantly. His body now rests in our beautiful Oak Wood Cemetery. He +was a kind man. The enemy followed to Harrison's Landing in small +force; made a slight attack on our forces, on the morning of July 2nd, +but we easily repulsed. The regiment and army settled down to camp +life. While here, the Rebels made a night attack, from south side +James River. Our heavy batteries and gun boats in the river soon +knocked them out of the box. The day following, the 4th and 16th +Michigan were ferried over the river to see about it. Found debris of +caissons, dead horses, and evidence of demoralization. Staid over all +day. Some captures were made. Among the trophies, were a considerable +amount of geese. The regiments returned to north bank of stream and +went into camp. The rebels did not attack again. The severe handling +they received at their nocturnal demonstration evidently satisfied +them. After the death of Colonel Woodbury, Lt. Col. Childs was +promoted to Colonel of the 4th regiment; Lt. Col. Duffield was +promoted to Colonel of 9th Michigan Infantry. After the Peninsular +campaign had ended, the 4th returned, with the army, and entered on +the "Pope Campaign." The regiment in command of Col. Childs was in the +engagement at Gainsville, Aug. 29, 1862; Bull Run, Aug. 30, and at +Antietam Sept. 17 following. At Shepardstown Ford, Sept. 20 with its +brigade, it forded the Potomac, in face of a battery, killed and drove +off the enemy, captured their guns. After the Maryland campaign, the +regiment returned to the Potomac, and was in battle of Fredericksburg, +Dec. 13th and 14th, 1862. Lt. Col. George W. Lumbard, commanded. Its +loss in these two days was 9 killed, 41 wounded, and one missing; +Lieut. James Clark was killed, Company B. Remember the 4th was always +identified with 2nd brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, and was in said +organizations until expiration of service. After battle of +Fredericksburg. Dec. 13, 14, the 4th returned to north bank +Rappahannock; on the 30th and 31st of December the regiment was +engaged in a reconnoisance to Morrisville, making a march of 33 miles +on the latter day. It was engaged in a movement on the 20th of +January, 1863, marching only a few miles; returned to camp near +Falmouth, where we remained until May 1st, sending out details, +building corduroy roads, bridges, and other preparations, clearing +the way for an advance to Chancellorsville. May 2d, it forded the +Rapidan River, without opposition. On the 3d it marched out to and +beyond Chancellorsville, proper, and formed the extreme left of the +army, 1st division, 5th corps. The division was cut off from the rest +of its corps, at this time. We maneuvered around, for a while. Finally +it was decided to try and support the brave Sedgwick, commanding 6th +corps, who was battling with the Johnnies at Fredericksburg. The +column was put in motion, left in front, 4th Michigan in the lead--the +writer's Company out as flankers. We soon heard the familiar Rebel +yell, in our front. It put a stop to the movement. We returned, sadder +but wiser, to our former position. It was then getting dark. The +Division was put in motion to the rear, towards the bluffy ground near +the Rappahannock River, where we were put in line of battle--our right +extending towards Chancellorsville, our left near the river. It was +high ground, and we considered it impregnable. The regiment, and in +fact, the whole line, threw up temporary breastworks. In this position +we passed the night of the 3d. Saturday, during the night, the 11th +corps had stampeded, at Chancellorsville, and took to the woods, in +rear, and could not be induced to return to the front. Sunday morning +the sun rose clear and hot. + +We received orders to march to the vacated position that had been +occupied by the 11th corps. We double-quicked the entire distance, +over rough ground. The underbrush had been cleared away partially. +When we arrived in open space, where the fight was going on, we were +quickly formed in echelon, battle array by division front. The +Johnnies came out of the woods in our front with the apparent +determination to drive us back; but grape and canister, accompanied by +musketry, drove them back. They did not appear again that day. This +was May 4th. The enemy contented themselves with annoying us with +their sharpshooters, located in trees, in woods, in our front. Our +officers concluded to teach them better manners than to kill men in +this quiet and barbarous way. Accordingly, orders were given to deploy +the 4th Michigan as skirmishers, and clear the wood, which was done in +fine style, and at a double quick. I saw a rebel sharp shooter, +located in a tree some sixty feet from the ground, he had a telescope +rifle, and on his head an old plug hat. He was shot, and came tumbling +to the earth. He struck the ground straight out. He looked to be nine +feet long, in his descent to the ground. + +The line swept on, driving all before it. We soon struck Rebel works, +composed of logs. In front was a ravine. As the Johnnys went up the +incline, and over the works, we landed in the ravine. This saved us, +as they could not fire to any advantage, while their men were ready to +break their necks to get out of our way. They fired a tremendous +volley over our heads; our bugle sounded the "recall," and then we +proceeded to "git"--"the Devil take the hindermost." Now, I was +considered a smart runner, but could not gain an inch on the man ahead +of me. On we went. We could hear the swish of cannister in our rear, +but on we went. The 9th Massachusetts was sent after us as a support. +It had halted half way and laid down. We passed over them in our +flight. The Rebels soon followed up, and when in range of the guns of +the 9th, they arose, and delivered their fire, which sent the +survivors flying to their works. Thus ended the most exciting race of +my life. I never shall forget it. It was amusing to. Colonel Welch, of +the 16th Michigan, felt slighted because his Regiment was not selected +for the job. I told him I was sorry, as I was willing he should have +all the honor that would accrue to me. I was not very proud of such +chances. + +The army withdrew to the north bank of the Rappahannock. The 4th +Michigan, 14th New York, 9th Massachusetts, 62d Pennsylvania, +composing 2d Brigade, was rear guard to the United States Ford. The +army moved in the night, leaving picket line established. Many were +captured. After crossing the river, we encountered a sea of mud. The +army slashed around until it arrived at our old camp at Falmouth. The +4th was camped at Stoneman's Switch. We remained there until May 26th, +when it, the 4th, was ordered to Kelly's Ford, for guard duty, where +it remained until the 13th of June, 1863. Here a laughable thing +happened. The Johnnys were on one side of the river, and we occupied +the other, doing picket; a long, lankey Johnny sat on the bank of the +stream, poorly dressed, with his feet in the water; no firing at this +time, by mutual consent. One of our smart Alicks sung out to him, "I +say, Johnny Reb., why don't you wear better clothes?" His reply was +prompt, "We uns don't wear our best clothes when we go to kill hogs." +Our Alick subsided. This man was shot soon after. It was a cowardly +deed. The Regiment participated in the long and fatigueing march to +Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. On the way, at Aldie and Middleburg, it was +detained in support of cavalry. + +We passed on and across the Potomac ferry, at Edwards. On the way we +saw plenty of evidence of the cavalry advance,--dead horses, +accoutrements belonging to cavalry outfit. We arrived at Hanover, +Pennsylvania, on the afternoon of July 1st. Rested and fed; then on to +Gettysburg. Marched all night--a beautiful moon-light night. As we +passed farm houses, the people came out with water and refreshments, +handed us as we passed along foot-sore and tired. An Aide-de-camp came +riding along, saying: "Boys, keep good courage, McClellan is in +command of the army, again." Instantly the space above was filled with +the hats and caps of the gratified soldiers. They shouted and +hollered, and kicked up their heels, and were frisky with the +supposed good news. I mention this to show with what veneration Little +Mac. was held by the Army of the Potomac. I knew this was untrue, +myself, but it served its purpose as intended. Many a brave heart went +down next day with that belief in his heart. On to Gettysburg. We +arrived in sight of line of battle being formed, at 9 A. M., July 2nd. +Lunched, and was then moved up near Round Top. Was halted again, and +awaited the coming struggle. It came. + +The regiment was formed in line of battle, with the brigade, and was +moved nearer the battle going on in front of us, with other troops +engaged. The regiment stood under fire at least a half hour before it +became engaged, getting a large share of spent balls from the front. +Soon the general commanding Division, Brown, said: "Boys, I want you +to put in a few licks for Pennsylvania; the Buck-tails will go in on +your left. Forward." It was a relief to hear the order, "March." We +advanced into the maelstrom of Rebel bullets. By some oversight our +right was exposed, and we had to contend with three to one. We held +them until they made a fierce charge, charging our right and doubling +it to the rear of our left. We were taken at a great disadvantage. I +looked to our rear; our colors were there, and men rallying around +them. Our colonel, H. H. Jeffords, was there, in the thickest of the +struggle, calling on the boys to save the flag. They needed no urging; +they fought like demons. Our colonel was killed--shot and then +bayoneted. A brave man was killed by the hand of a traitor,--and many +others, too, who were simple privates, but heroes for all that; every +one of them who fell doing his duty, or imposed duty. + +We had to fall back. The writer was here wounded, and the battle +surged beyond him. Soon the enemy came, tearing back in retreat. They +had struck the brave old 6th Army Corps, just arrived, and in time to +save the day. The Rebels went back flying, with the 6th Corps men +close after them. They had no time to scoop any of the wounded, as +they had all they could attend to in getting out themselves. It was +now dusk; the fierce struggle was over for the night. The struggle had +been simply terrible; the carnage was awful; the fire incessant. +Groans and oaths of the wounded were heard on every hand. Many would +have recovered, had they had care. But it was impossible to reach all. +The writer, with others, was loaded into an ambulance, at two o'clock +in the morning of July 3d, and taken to an old house to the north, and +east of the battle ground. Here were many wounded. Among those in the +house was a Rebel Colonel, shot through the breast. He sat in the only +chair in the house. He commanded a Louisiana Regiment, and was wounded +early in the fight. I saw him lying on the ground, after the fight had +surged by me. I think he died. + +The 2d day of July, 1863, ended the writer's service in the field. The +3d day of July was ushered in with an ominous quiet. No sound of +cannon broke the stillness, until near ten o'clock, A. M., when +mutterings of the awful strife, inaugurated later, began to be heard. +Soon the din began. The voices of an hundred big mouthed guns began to +vomit forth its death dealing missiles. The Infantry now began to put +in its refrain; after a few spasmodic belchings, of the firing, the +tremendous concussion of all arms became general. About five miles of +line of battle could be seen from where us non-combatants lay. The +whole line was ablaze. Firing was incessant. Salvos after salvos, of +artillery belched forth. The air was full of flying missiles--death +everywhere. Thus the strife continued all day--an awful day, too, for +those who lay helpless in plain view. Charge after charge was made by +the determined enemy, but they were repulsed each and every time by +the boys in blue. The anxiety was terrible to those who could not +participate in the struggle. The very air seemed to be ablaze. The +suspense became painful later in the day. Such persistency seemed, +must be, rewarded with success. + +Still the fight went on, and seemed to us an age of suspense. Many +wounded came from the front. Ten thousand questions were asked of +those who had been wounded, "how goes the battle?" Some would answer, +doubtful, others would say, "our side would win." It was curious to +note the countenances of those who heard the news, some with great +anxiety in their faces, others with confidence depicted in every +feature. Finally, the awful noise died away; news was brought by an +aide-de-camp "that the enemy had hauled off." These men who were dying +would raise themselves to a sitting posture, and utter one hurrah! Lay +down and die! The work of death ceased. The rebels retreated. Thus +ended the three days battle of Gettysburg. The 4th ranks were badly +depleted. So was the whole army. The sanitary commission was on hand, +and rendered great service, in the care of the wounded. One poor +fellow of our regiment, a Company D man, was shot in the head. He +would get on his knees, put his head on the ground, and twist his head +in the ground. He bored that way until death put an end to his +sufferings. Many died of their wounds, and were buried then and there. +The wounded were sent away as fast as possible. The writer, with +others, left for Baltimore, and remained a few days at that place, at +a Catholic Infirmary. We were treated with great kindness by the +Sisters of that benevolent institution. The ladies of Baltimore--God +bless them--they regaled us with all the luxuries of the season, I can +never forget their kindness. + +The subsequent history of the regiment is taken from the official +sources, (Michigan in the War,) with some personal recollections. + +The struggle in which the regiment was engaged at Gettysburg, may be +inferred from the following notice of the services of its corps, the +5th, as stated by Mr. Greeley, in his "American Conflict." Sickles' new +position was commanded by the Rebel Batteries, posted on Seminary +Ridge, in his front, scarcely half a mile distant. While magnificent +lines of battle, a mile and a half long, swept up to his front and +flanks, crushing him back with heavy loss, and struggling desperately +to seize Round Top, at his left. Meade regarded this hill as vital to +the maintenance of our position, and had already ordered Sykes to +advance the 5th corps, with all possible haste, to save and hold it. + +A fierce and bloody struggle ensued, for the enemy had nearly carried +the hill before Sykes reached it. While Humphrey, who with one of +Sykes' Divisions, had been posted on Sickles' right, was in turn +assailed in front and flank, and driven back with a loss of 2,000 out +of 5,000 men. + +After the death of Colonel Jeffords, Lt. Col. Lumbard assumed command +of the Regiment, pursuing the enemy from Gettysburg; the 4th marched +to Williamsport. On July 12th, the enemy having crossed the Potomac, +the Regiment proceeded to Berlin; thence on the 17th it marched to +Warrenton, by way of Mannassas Gap; then proceeded to Beverly Ford, +where it remained until Sept. 16th, thence to Culpepper, remaining +there until the 9th of October; again crossing the Rappahannock, it +encamped near Beverly Ford; recrossing on the following day, it +assisted in driving the enemy, who were advancing, back to Brandy +Station, the 4th acting as flankers, for the 5th corps. On the 12th +the Regiment recrossed the Rappahannock, and fell back with the army, +via Bealton, Warrenton Junction, and Centerville, to Fairfax Station, +where it remained until the 18th, when it marched forward to Three +Mile Station, near Warrenton Junction, and went into camp. + +In Col. Lumbard's report, he says: "The Regiment has participated in +all the movements of the Army of the Potomac, and have not mentioned +the many reconnoisances, and the number of times the Regiment has been +on small skirmishes with the enemy. The Regiment has marched during +the year over 700 miles." + +The 4th, in command of Colonel Lumbard, who had been commissioned as +Colonel, to rank from July 3rd, then in 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th +Corps. (Griffin's) advanced on the 7th of Nov., 1863, with Army of the +Potomac, from its camp near Three Mile Station, on the O. & A. R. R. +to the Rappahannock River, and the same day participated in the +engagement at Rappahannock Station. On the 3rd the Regiment was +ordered, with its Brigade, to keep open the communication from Bealton +to Kelly's Ford, and engaged in that duty until the 19th, when the +command rejoined its corps near Kelly's Ford. Breaking camp on the +26th, the command moved toward the Rapidan River, which it crossed at +Germania Ford. On the 28th, the Regiment moved to the right of the +position at Mine Run, but did not become engaged. On the night of the +30th, it fell back across the Rapidan. The 5th corps, being ordered on +guard duty along the Orange and Alexandria R. R., the Regiment arrived +at Bealton on the 1st of December, where it remained until the 30th of +April, 1864, when it broke camp and marched to Rappahannock Station. +On the 1st of May, the Regiment crossed the Rappahannock River, and +camped near Brandy Station, and thence on the 3rd, marched to +Culpepper. On the morning of the 4th it started from Culpepper to +participate in the Summer Campaign, crossing the Rapidan at Germania +Ford. On the 5th, 6th and 7th, the Regiment participated in the +Battles of the Wilderness. Col. Lumbard was mortally wounded on the +5th, and died on the 6th. In the same engagement, Capt. W. H. +Loveland, Company B, was wounded, and died of his wounds on the 31st +of same month. On the night of the 7th, the 4th, then commanded by Lt. +Col. J. W. Hall, moved toward Spottsylvania. Arrived at Laurel Hill +on the morning of the 8th, it here became engaged with the enemy, and +again on the 9th. On the 10th it assisted in a charge upon and capture +of the enemy's rifle pits, loosing 20 killed and wounded. On the 11th +and 12th the Regiment was in the advanced lines of the corps, and on +the 13th and 14th was engaged as skirmishers. On the evening of the +latter date the command moved to the left of the army, near +Spottsylvania Court House, and remained here until the 19th. It then +took part in the movement to North Anna River, which it crossed on the +24th, near Jericho Mills, the Regiment participating in the engagement +at this place. On the night of the 26th it recrossed the North Anna +and marched to Hanovertown, crossing the Pamunky River on the 28th. On +the 29th, 30th and 31st of May, and 1st of June, it was engaged as +skirmishers, and on the 3rd it participated in the capture of the +enemy's line of works near Bethesda church. In the engagement Lieut. +James N. Vesey, Company C, was killed. On the 5th, the Regiment +marched to Bottoms Bridge, and on the 14th crossed the James River, at +Wilcox's Landing, whence it proceeded to the lines in front of +Petersburg, where it arrived on the 16th. On the next day the Regiment +was engaged as skirmishers, and on the 19th took part in the +engagement of that date, loosing 8 killed and wounded. During the +engagements from Nov. 1st, 1863, to June 19th, 1864, the Regiment lost +3 officers and 37 men, killed or died of wounds, with 6 missing in +action. Although this loss seems small, yet it was about 15 per cent. +of its whole strength. The term of service for which the Regiment had +been mustered in expired June 19th, 1864. It was accordingly relieved, +and on the 20th it embarked on transports at City Point for +Washington. + +It arrived at Detroit on the 26th, and on the 30th of June the +companies were mustered out of service. Of those on the rolls, the +terms of 200 men and 23 officers had expired. Of these, 32 men and 1 +officer were prisoners, in the hands of the enemy; 135 men and 22 +officers were present for muster out, since the 1st of Nov., 1863. The +Regiment had received 110 recruits, including a new company, organized +at Hillsdale, Michigan, which joined the Regiment on the 16th of May, +and which remained in service with the Reorganized Regiment, 129 men +of the Regiment re-enlisted as volunteers, and on the 30th of June, +there were 280 men and 3 officers on the rolls, whose terms of office +had not expired. These were ordered to duty with the First Michigan +Infantry, when the 4th left the field of war. The total membership of +the 4th Regiment had been, during its service, 1,325, while its losses +were 273, of which 8 officers and 115 men were killed in action; 4 +officers, 50 men, died of wounds; one officer and 95 men of disease. + + Their brows bear many a gory stain, + Their white lips press not ours again, + And eyes that once our life light were, + Give back a cold, appalling stare. + + + + +Reminiscences. + + +INCIDENTS IN AND OUT OF CAMP, NO. 1. + +[Illustration: {The exploding barrel.}] + +In winter of 1861-2, at Camp Minor's Hill, Virginia, Company B had a +man who was an inveterate forager, in fact, he was peculiarly adapted +to that branch of service. He would be absent a week at a time. When +he showed up in camp, he was put on extra duty, or punished in some +form. At one time he was to stand on a barrel two hours. Some of the +boys dug a hole, and placed about a peck of blank cartridges in the +same; dug a trench to a tent ten feet away and laid a train of powder; +put the barrel over the hole. Soon the culprit was brought, and caused +to mount the barrel. Soon that barrel took a flying leap heavenward +ten feet in the air. The man, with arms and legs extended, and with a +look I never shall forget. When he struck the earth, he said, with a +grim sense of humor, "Well boys, you came damned near translating +me--making a second prophet of me; I am inclined to think the route +you would have caused me to take, would be poor foraging." + +On one of his migratorial expeditions, he met with the last enemy to +be conquered--Death. He was fairly educated, and a man of good sense. +He would not learn drill or to handle a musket. He would have made a +proficient spy. I have thought sometimes he was employed in that +capacity, unknown to the Regiment, for he would leave camp as soon as +he was relieved. The barrel episode was the most severe punishment he +ever received, at our hands. It was my province to look after the +Company, and absent ones. I rarely reported him absent. I enjoyed many +a toothsome viand, the result of his foraging. He had at one time ten +thousand dollars, in Erie and Kalamazoo money, and he assured me got +rid of it all. + + +INCIDENT NO. 2. + +When the Regiment went into camp for the winter, 1861, the boys built +quarters of logs, with canvas tops; Company B built what they called a +Hermitage, of timber, mud and canvas. Its capacity was for about +twenty of the men. A chimney was constructed of sticks and mud for a +base, topped out with barrels. One night, we, of the shoulder straps +and high chevrons, got an invite to a barbacue at the Hermitage. As we +filed in a huge fire, with half a yearling steer hanging over the fire +place, met our view. It hung directly in the blaze; the boys were +occasionally throwing water on the meat to baste it. As fast as the +outside was cooked, it was sliced off and passed around. Whiskey was +plenty, and copiously used, to wash down the banquet. Songs and +speeches were in order. By the way, Company B had plenty of +talent--doctors, lawyers, preachers and gentlemen; a good time all +around. Finally some one of the party, who had not the fear of his +Creator, or shoulder straps in his heart, blew up the chimney barrels, +and all went up in smoke. + +[Illustration: {The exploding chimney barrels.}] + + +INCIDENT NO. 3. + +The writer of this was Orderly Sergeant of Company B a part of 1861-2. +And certain characters of the Company considered it legal to plunder +this much abused official's pipes, tobacco, and even whiskey was +deemed free, whenever or wherever found. The writer suffered many a +loss in this line. One especially, who bored him unceasingly for a +chance to smoke a very large pipe, holding a quarter pound of tobacco. +I will call him "Croxton," "Jack," for short. One morning I sat in my +tent making morning report. I had filled this big pipe, and laid it on +the desk in front of me, expecting "Jack" to call for a smoke. He came +in due time, and asked if he might smoke my big pipe? I told him I had +just filled it for my own use. Well, he said, I was busy then, and +could smoke after he got through. He always had a story to tell me. He +sat with his legs hanging inside the doorway, (the shanty was built of +logs). I passed him the pipe; he commenced smoking, and telling me a +yarn. Soon the pipe exploded, his heels went up, and he over +backwards. He arose and said, "you think you are damned smart." He +asked for no more smoke. + +[Illustration: {The exploding pipe.}] + + +INCIDENT NO. 4. + +One day a blizzard came along, and devastated things generally. Among +the calamities was the destruction of our sutlers' shebang. It was in +panels, built of thin boards. It was scuttled very promiscuous, and +his stock of goods were distributed to all points. The boys were +watching with pleased expressions on their countenances. They could +stand the temptation no longer, and they went to gathering the spoils +in. The sutler howled and ordered them off. They paid no attention. He +said he would see about it, and started to see the Colonel. While he +was gone, everything in sight was gobbled, and he could not find hide +nor hair of any article. I found two boxes cigars, some figs, a jack +knife, and a few other articles, thrust under my tent. I did not +hesitate to appropriate, notwithstanding my religious proclivities. It +was a clean sweep--a dead loss--to the old boodler. He got my first +pay, more than half, and old sledge got the balance. He soon had +another invoice of goods, and proceeded to lay up an account against +the boys. + +[Illustration: {The sutler tries to keep the men away.}] + + +INCIDENT NO. 5. + +[Illustration: {A guest is thrown out of the tent.}] + +Be it understood, that the calibre of the commission, or officers of +the 4th Michigan, was of a high order, for courage and undisputed +ability, as the roster in appendix of this narration shows. On a +certain occasion, Captain O. was holding a levee at his quarters. All +went well. Punch and other refreshments were freely indulged in. +Hilarity ran high. Captain O. attempted to make a short speech. His +muddled condition caused a remark from another befuddled officer, that +did not please the choleric Captain. He threw open the flaps to the +entrance of the tent; divested himself of some of his uniform, and +proceeded with the attempt to throw his guests out. But the doughty +Captain struck a bigger job than he could handle. The result was, the +Captain was picked up and deposited ten rods away in a ditch that had +been dug around a tent. This same brilliant officer afterwards +commanded a Regiment. He sent them into their first battle without +ammunition. But the courage of the promoted Captain was undoubted. + + +INCIDENT NO. 6. + +Fooling with supposed empty shells, is sometimes disastrous. The +Banner Company of the Regiment were much given to old sledge and +poker, and often plied their avocation into the wee small hours of +night, contrary to express orders--lights out after taps. But these +injunctions were not always heeded, as the sequel will show. Some of +the boys had found a shell not exploded. They, as supposed, dug out +all the powder, and on the occasion of a night's occupation of their +favorite pastime, used the shell as a candlestick. They inserted their +short piece in the fuse hole, and proceeded with the game. The candle +burned low; the lighted wick dropped into the shell; a tremendous +explosion was the result. It totally demolished the tent, and nearly +severed the flag-staff near by--so much so it fell over. But, strange +to relate, nobody was hurt. They supposed they had got all the powder +out. Moral--do not play cards after taps, nor use a shell for a +candlestick, unless you are positive it is not loaded. + + +INCIDENT NO. 7. + +[Illustration: {A soldier in a tree taunts the enemy across the river.}] + +In the spring of 1863, just before the Gettysburg campaign, the 4th +Michigan was doing guard duty on the Rappahannock river, at Kelly's +Ford, Virginia. The writer's company was detached for picket duty. We +were stationed at Mountain Run Ford, down the river from Kelly's Ford, +some three miles. The river at this place was shallow. We guarded +against cavalry, had to be constantly on the alert. We also patrolled +the river some three miles down. At the end of our patrol route, lived +an old Rebel cuss. He was bitter in his denunciation of the Yankees. +His name was Atkinson,--a cousin to the Atkinson of Bleeding Kansas +fame. At his house we met another patrol from lower down, and compared +notes. We had to watch the old reprobate closely; also had to keep an +eye on his domestics. The first patrol was conducted by the writer, +and was quite early in the morning. We followed the bank of the river +about a half mile from our reserve. Standing close on the bank of the +stream stood a large persimmon tree, well loaded with the luscious +fruit. The bank sloped sudden and abrupt from the river. The patrol +passed on, and I mounted the tree, crawled out on a big limb, settled +myself to scraping in the fruit; I did not even taste the berries, but +dumped them into my haversack. The patrol passed on out of my range. +Soon a gentle sound was wafted to my ears from across the river. There +was no mistaking the ominous sound and its purport. It said, "Yank! +come over." I gazed over the water. There, in plain view, was ten or a +dozen rebel cavalrymen, with their carbines pointed at me, and a +laughing. They repeated, "Yank, come over." I could see nothing to +laugh at, and told them so. They insisted that I should come to them. +I told them, "I could not swim, and the water was too deep to wade." +Well, "that did not make any difference. You must come anyhow." I +said, well, here goes for a try. I slid to the ground. As I struck the +earth, one of them fired. The ball went high over my head. I suspect +he shot high on purpose to remind me of my obligation. + +I waited for no more invitations, but threw myself flat on the ground, +and with one tremendous wriggle, slid out of range. This brought a +volley from the Rebels. The firing brought my patrol back, double +quick. The Rebels skedaddled as fast as their horses could bear them +away. The boys were terribly in earnest, but when they knew the +situation, they had a big laugh at my expense. The racket also brought +our reserve, with a battle in their mind. After learning the cause, +the reserve returned, and we, the patrol, went our rounds. The old man +Atkinson was the bitterest old devil or Rebel it was my fortune to +meet in all my stay in Dixie; and he did not disguise his sentiments. +I will say those persimmons were not ripe; their looks were deceiving. +I advise all who hanker after persimmons, to wait until they are +thoroughly ripe; for unless they are matured, they will pucker up any +vacuum that they put their grip upon; but they are delicious when +ripe. + + +INCIDENT NO. 8. + +While the regiment lay at Kelly's Ford, before the Gettysburg +campaign, we were paid off. Being in arrear of pay, we received quite +a boodle of money. The communication between our army and Washington, +by way of Aquia Creek, was temporary and somewhat uncertain. Trains of +forage, and ambulances, were sent through attended by a heavy guard. +After getting paid, the men were desirous of sending their surplus +money home. It would go by Adams' Express, from Aquia. Our chaplain, +(Seage,) a brave, good man, volunteered to carry it to Aquia Creek. An +ambulance train was going to make the trip, heavily guarded; the +chaplain was to accompany it. The train left very early in the morning +without the chaplain. But, nothing daunted, he followed on, expecting +soon to overtake it. About four miles out he had to cross a swale with +corduroy road. Just across was timber; and on approaching the timber, +he saw two men step from behind trees, and at the same time ordered +him to approach. He wheeled his horse, and in turning around one of +the would-be robbers fired on him, hitting him in one wrist. This did +not stop him. They yelled to him to halt, and at the same time fired +again, hitting him in the shoulder. But the knowing mare carried her +brave rider to the rear, and out of danger. He threw himself on his +faithful horse's neck, and clung there until the faithful animal +galloped into camp, weak with loss of blood, but with a brave heart +still palpitating. A detail of cavalry was immediately sent out, but +with no result. Our brave chaplain was kindly cared for, and +eventually recovered, but badly crippled. He risked his life to save +the boys' money. Our money was returned to us, and we had to carry it +through the Gettysburg fight. My share of money sent was four hundred +dollars. I had it in my pocket when I was wounded, after, at +Gettysburg. I was a prisoner for a few minutes, but the noble Sixth +Army Corps made it such a necessity to the Johnnies to git, they had +no time to scoop us in. Brave old corps, I remember you with +gratitude. + + +A LITTLE WAR EXPERIENCE. + +After the battle of Malvern Hill, our column moved on to Harrison +Landing. We arrived there after daylight, in the morning. Made coffee, +and rested a little. The Rebels followed up in small force, and +commenced shelling us. We were moved out and formed in line of battle. +In front of us was timber; in our rear was mud, and plenty of it, of a +slushy nature. The Rebel guns threw railroad iron at us. They fired +high. The missiles went to our rear. As these pieces of iron struck +the mud, caused the slush to mount high in air, and in sheets. A New +York regiment had just arrived by boat, (a new regiment.) They were +moved to our front. I noticed the officers had hand satchels, and had +paper collars around their necks. Our fellows cried, "Soft bread," +"Fresh fish," and other appellations. The poor devils passed on into +the woods, but the Rebels were in full retreat. Hooker had gone out +with a brigade, and took them in flank. From here a detail from our +regiment was sent to our State to recruit, to help fill the depleted +ranks. The writer was one of this number. + +We boarded a mail boat that plied between the landing and Fort Monroe, +and with an escort, a turtle gun boat, started down the James, for +Fort Monroe. On our way down, our boat was the target for Rebel guns +along the bank of the river. The pilot house was sheeted over with +iron, and when the musket balls came in contact with the iron, it +caused a terrible racket. At one place, a bend in the river, they had +thrown up a redoubt, and had two pieces of cannon ranged on the river. +But our little turtle wiggled up, (gun boat,) and hurled a few shells +at them; causing them to limber up and skedaddle very sudden. We +arrived all right at the Fort, took steamer for Baltimore, and to +God's country. Recruiting was slow, for the old regiment men feared to +enlist for it, as they would be pushed immediately to the front. I +would prefer an old organization, as I would get the benefit of their +experience. Whereas a new regiment, if pushed to the front, would +labor under a great disadvantage. + + +A LITTLE "BLACK HORSE" CAVALRY, NO TERROR TO 4TH MICHIGAN BOYS. + +A short time before first Bull Run fight, the 4th Michigan, with other +regiments, were in camp at Cloud's Mills, Virginia, about 5 miles out +from Alexandria, towards Fairfax Court House. Our pickets were well +extended out, in above named direction. One day the writer, with about +20 of the Regiment were out towards Fairfax. We seen a small column of +cavalry approaching with a flag of truce hoisted. As they drew near, +it proved to be an escort of the famous Black Horse Cavalry. We were +ranged all along the road as they passed. They were conducting a man +and woman to our lines. On their return, we encountered them again. I +noticed the contrast between those Rebel troopers, their sullen and +vindictive appearance, and compared them to the cheerful and wideawake +countenance of our men. They passed on towards Fairfax. We felt we +could have cleaned them out in fifteen minutes. There was nothing +about the Black Horse Cavalry, that was very terrifying. I saw better +men and horses every day, of our brave troopers. + + +A LITTLE WAR CLOUD. + +While the army was stationed along Arlington, from Chain Bridge, +Potomac, to Alexandria, Virginia, the 4th Michigan occupied the ground +in and about Fort Woodbury, on Arlington. Our picket line was extended +out to, or near Minor's Hill, which we occupied, later on, in winter +quarters, 1861-2. At one time, while our Regiment was doing guard +duty, at above named place, picket firing was in order, with but +little damage to either side, but very annoying. One morning, about +day break, our doughty and valorous Captain George Spalding, formed +about 20 of Company B, and started out to see what could be developed +in our front. (By the way, our Captain Spalding was a brave man, a +little reckless, but all wool and a yard wide.) We marched out in +Indian file, the Captain leading. The writer being 1st Sergeant, was +next. After going a half mile, and near the road running down the +hill, east, and towards our approach, we saw at our right a picket +stationed in a rail pile, put up in Chevron form. He fired his gun, +and then took to his heels. Right at the end of the road, where it +comes down the hill, the road turned abruptly to the south. Right in +this angle the Rebel reserve picket lay. This was also their videt +post. About 20 of the Johnnies lay in this elbow, and apparently +asleep, for we were within 20 feet of them before they discovered us. +The shot of the picket on our approach woke them up. They were taken +completely by surprise. They were a good deal excited, (also +ourselves,) and broke for their rear. We fired a volley, with some +effect. One burley Rebel, ran about ten rods, suddenly halted, turned +around, brought his gun to shoulder, and fired. I think the shot was +intended for our Captain, but missed him, and I being directly behind +him, or a little to his left, the ball just grazed my right ear. +Before this Rebel could face to the rear, a shot from the gun of one +Fisher, laid him low. Fisher jumped the fence and obtained his +knapsack. The racket stirred up a nest of Rebels, over the hill. Soon +we saw guns dance above the brow of the hill, as the Johnnies +double-quicked up the slope, on the other side of the hill; they +arrived in plain view, battalion front, a whole Regiment of them. Then +we were admonished to git--and we did. They fired after us, but +without effect. Right here was done some tall skedaddling, through +brush, over logs and rough ground. This encroachment on their +premises, made the Johnnies mad; they kept up a continual fusillade +during the day. + +Later on, after going into camp, at Minor's Hill, the Rebels tried to +locate a battery about two miles to the west of our camp, and in plain +view, a valley between. Two guns of a battery near our head quarters +were unlimbered, and proceeded to sling shell over among them. Our +fellows greeted them so lively, that the Johnnies were fain to limber +up and steal away. + +NOTE--The events narrated in these Reminiscences, are not in +chronological order, but are facts all the same, as can be verified, +and attested by others belonging to the Regiment. + + +EULOGY. + +Comrades, I cannot close this imperfect recital, without saying a few +words to you all. I am aware of my inability to do justice to the +subject. I have omitted many incidents that happened while in service +together. I can see you all as you used to appear on the march, in +battle, and in the quiet camp. Your pranks and repartee are fresh in +my memory. 45 of the numbers that made up the roster of Company B, +were from our sister state, Indiana, and all comrades were true as +steel. You all need to be proud of your record, and the part the +glorious old 4th took in suppressing treason. A quarter of a century +from now will close the roster for nearly all of us; a much shorter +time for myself. Comrades, overlook what you may have seen amiss in +me. We are all finite, none perfect. You were a splendid class of men, +and none braver. Your record will be handed down to your posterity, +and they will point back to your probation here with pride. "My +forefathers helped to throttle treason." + + GOOD-BY COMRADES. + + + + +Transcriber's Note + +Page 20 contains "It was amusing to." This may be missing 'me' from +the end of the sentence, or 'to' should have been 'too'. As it is +impossible to be certain, it is preserved as printed. + +Page 21 contains reference to a sea of mud, followed by "The army +slashed around...." Slashed may be a typographic error for splashed, +or the author may have intentionally used slashed to indicate +hard-going on swampy ground. As it is impossible to be certain, it is +preserved as printed. + +Variable spelling is preserved as printed when there is a single +instance of the word, e.g. Gainsville, canister and cannister, +fatigueing, Mannassas, barbacue, underbush and underbrush. Variation +in spelling of proper nouns where there is more than one instance has +been made consistent, as follows: + + Page 10--Miner's amended to Minor's--"With the advance of + the army from Minor's Hill, ..." + + Page 19--Chancellorville amended to Chancellorsville--"... + it marched out to and beyond Chancellorsville, ..." + + Page 21--Kelley's amended to Kelly's--"... the 4th, was + ordered to Kelly's Ford, ..." + + Page 21--Johnney amended to Johnny--"... Johnny Reb., why + don't you wear ..." + + Page 25--Beverley amended to Beverly--"... it encamped near + Beverly Ford, ..." + + Page 25--Rappanhannock amended to Rappahannock--"On the 12th + the Regiment recrossed the Rappahannock, ..." + +Seconds and thirds may be written as 2d or 2nd, and 3d or 3rd +respectively. + +Minor punctuation errors have been repaired. + +Hyphenation and capitalisation has been made consistent. + +The following typographic errors have been fixed: + + Page 6--unusal amended to unusual--"About the same time, I + felt an unusual sensation ..." + + Page 7--civillians amended to civilians--"The rush of + soldiers, congressmen, and other civilians, ..." + + Page 12--come amended to came--"... when zip, pinge, came + the warning to get out." + + Page 14--Lousiana amended to Louisiana--"The 4th Michigan + about used up the Louisiana Tigers." + + Page 15--Masschusetts amended to Massachusetts--"The 9th + Massachusetts, one of our brigade, ..." + + Page 15--Rebesl amended to Rebels--"... that the Rebels + attacked with great fury." + + Page 15--mischievious amended to mischievous--"Some + mischievous fellow in the rear ..." + + Page 16--splended amended to splendid--"... after Mac., who + was a splendid rider ..." + + Page 19--manouvered amended to maneuvered--"We maneuvered + around, for a while." + + Page 19--come amended to came--"The Johnnies came out of + the woods in our front ..." + + Page 21--beautifull amended to beautiful--"... a beautiful + moon-light night." + + Page 23--srife amended to strife--"... when mutterings of + the awful strife, ..." + + Page 24--aid-de-camp amended to aide-de-camp--"... news was + brought by an aide-de-camp ..." + + Page 26--Irvland amended to Loveland (name confirmed against + official records)--"In the same engagement, Capt. W. H. + Loveland, ..." + + Page 35--choloric amended to choleric--"... that did not + please the choleric Captain." + + Page 37--rout amended to route--"At the end of our patrol + route, lived an old Rebel cuss." + + Page 39--desirious amended to desirous--"... the men were + desirous of sending their surplus money home." + + Page 40--arrivied amended to arrived--"We arrived there + after daylight, ..." + + Page 41--CAVALARY amended to CAVALRY--"A LITTLE "BLACK + HORSE" CAVALRY, ..." + + Page 43--stired amended to stirred--"The racket stirred up a + nest of Rebels, ..." + +Illustrations have been moved where necessary so they are not in the +middle of a paragraph. Captions in {brackets} have been added by the +transcriber for the convenience of the reader. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Reminiscences, Incidents, Battles, +Marches and Camp Life of the Old 4th Michigan Infantry in War of Rebellion, 1861 to 1864, by O. S. 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