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Parker, Colonel. -- a Project Gutenberg eBook - </title> - <style type="text/css"> - -a { - text-decoration: none} - -#coverpage { - border: 1px solid black; - margin: 2em auto} - -body { - margin: auto 10%} - -p { - text-align: justify} - -h1,h2,h3 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; - font-weight: normal; - margin: 1em auto} - -.ph1 { - font-size: xx-large; - text-align: center; - margin: 1em auto} - -p.author { - text-align: right; - margin: auto 5%} - -.drop:first-letter { - float: left; - clear: left; - font-family: Georgia,serif; - font-size: xx-large; - line-height: 0.85em; - margin-right: 0.03em; - margin-bottom: 0em} - -.medium { - font-size: medium} - -.large { - line-height: 2em; - font-size: large} - -.x-large { - line-height: 2em; - font-size: x-large} - -.xx-large { - line-height: 2em; - font-size: xx-large} - -hr { - border-top: 4px double #8c8b8b;} - -hr.tb { - width: 45%; margin: 2em 27.5%; clear: both} - -hr.chap { - width: 65%; margin: 2em 17.5%; clear: both} - -.i2 { - padding-left: 1em} - -.table { - display: table; - margin: 1em auto } - -table { - margin: auto} - -.tdr { - text-align: right;} - -.bt { - border-top: solid 2px;} - -.center { - text-align: center;} - -.smcap { - font-variant: small-caps;} - -/* Images */ -img { - border: none; - max-width: 100%} - -.figcenter { - clear: both; - margin: auto; - text-align: center;} - -/* Footnotes */ -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: small; - line-height: .1em; - text-decoration: none; - white-space: nowrap /* keeps footnote on same line as referenced text */} - -.footnote { - margin: auto auto auto 2em} - -.label { - display: inline-block; - text-indent: -2em; - text-align: right; - text-decoration: none} - -/* Poetry */ - -.poetry { - margin: auto; - text-align: center} - -.poem { - margin: auto; - display: inline-block; - text-align: left} - -.poem .stanza { - margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -.transnote { - background-color: #E6E6FA; - border: silver solid 1px; - color: black; - margin: 2em auto 5em auto; - padding: 1em} - -.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ - /* visibility: hidden; */ - color: silver; - position: absolute; - right: 1em; - font-size: small; - text-align: right; -} /* page numbers */ - .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} - -@media handheld { -.drop:first-letter { - float: left; - clear: left} -} - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the Thirty-second Regiment, -Massachusetts Infantry, by Francis J. Parker - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Story of the Thirty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry - Whence it came; where it went; what it saw, and what it did - -Author: Francis J. Parker - -Release Date: October 6, 2015 [EBook #50140] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORY OF THE 32ND REGIMENT, MASS. *** - - - - -Produced by Wayne Hammond and The Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> -<img id="coverpage" src="images/cover.jpg" -alt="" /> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_i">i</span></p> -</div> - -<h1> -THE STORY<br /> -<span class="medium">OF THE</span><br /> -Thirty-Second Regiment<br /> -<span class="x-large">MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.</span><br /> -<span class="table medium">WHENCE IT CAME; WHERE IT WENT; WHAT IT SAW;<br /> -AND WHAT IT DID.</span><br /> -<span class="x-large smcap">By FRANCIS J. PARKER, Colonel.</span><br /> -<br /> - -<img src="images/colophon.jpg" -alt="" /> -<br /> -<span class="table medium">BOSTON:<br /> -C. W. CALKINS & CO., PUBLISHERS.<br /> -1880.</span> -</h1> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ii">ii</span></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center"> -<span class="smcap">C. W. CALKINS & CO., Printers</span>,<br /> -286 Washington St., Boston.<br /> -</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">iii</span></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center medium"> -TO THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS<br /> -OF THE<br /> -THIRTY-SECOND MASSACHUSETTS,<br /> -IN MEMORY OF THE DEAD<br /> -AND<br /> -IN HONOR OF THE LIVING.<br /> -</p> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">iv</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">v</span></p> - -<h2 id="ERRATUM">ERRATUM.</h2> - -<p>On page 3, twelfth line, for “Brevet Brigadier-General,” read -“Colonel.” Colonel Prescott was never breveted. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">vi</span> -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">vii</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<h2 id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</h2> - -<p>THIS book is not a history of the civil war, nor even -of the Army of the Potomac; but merely the story of one -of the regiments which composed that Army. It does not -relate the biography of the many distinguished generals -under whose command the battalion served, and the -endeavor has been made to exclude from it not only discussions -as to the merits of individuals, but even favorable -or unfavorable opinions, save when the facts related -implied or seemed to require such reflections.</p> - -<p>The book is intended chiefly to collect and present in -narrative form, descriptions of some of the experiences of -our Regiment, in order to preserve them in the memory of -those who were actors in the scenes described, and enable -the officers and men of the 32d to place in the hands of -their children and friends vivid pictures of the dangers, -trials, and pleasures which attended the service of our -soldiers in the war for the Union.</p> - -<p>In the preparation of the book, I have received, and -gratefully acknowledge, the assistance of many of my old -comrades, officers, and men, not only by way of incidents -related verbally, but also—and this especially concerning -events which occurred after my own resignation—by way -of written contributions. Many of these are embodied in -the text almost in the language of the writers, and others -in a more or less condensed form. Among those to whom -I am thus indebted should be particularly named General -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">viii</span> -Luther Stephenson, jr., Surgeon Z. B. Adams, Major E. -S. Farnsworth, General J. A. Cunningham, Sergeant -S. C. Spaulding, Major Ambrose Bancroft, Captains G. -W. Lauriat and J. C. Fuller; and last, but by no means -least, Surgeon W. L. Faxon and Mrs. Faxon, whose -memories have provided stores of incident. To Colonel -I. F. Kingsbury I am indebted for the result of time-consuming -researches in the Adjutant-General’s Department -of the State.</p> - -<p>While making these just acknowledgments I absolve -all those named from any responsibility for such literary -imperfections as may appear herein and, assuming to -myself all blame for such defects, must ask my readers to -consider in charity to me the difficulties which must attend -a work so composed, and at the last somewhat hastily -completed.</p> - -<p class="author"> -F. J. P.</p> -<p><i>Boston, April 30th, 1880.</i></p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">ix</span></p> - -<h2 id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table> - <tr> - <td><a href="#PREFACE"><span class="smcap">Preface</span></a></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_vii">vii</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#I">I.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">In Garrison</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#II">II.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">On our own Hook</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#III">III.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">On the Peninsula</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#IV">IV.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Campaigning under Pope</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#V">V.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Our Third Battalion</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_75">75</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_x">x</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#VI">VI.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">The Antietam Campaign</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#VII">VII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">After Antietam</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_187">107</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#VIII">VIII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">To Fredericksburg</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#IX">IX.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Between Campaigns</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#X">X.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Chancellorsville</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XI">XI.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Fredericksburg to Gettysburg</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XII">XII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">After Gettysburg</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XIII">XIII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">A Lady at Winter Quarters</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_183">183</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XIX">XIV.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">At Liberty</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_189">189</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xi">xi</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XV">XV.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Out on Picket</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XVI">XVI.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">On Furlough</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XVII">XVII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">The Wilderness Campaign</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XVIII">XVIII.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">The Bomb Proofs</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_223">223</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XIX">XIX.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">Our Corps Hospital</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XX">XX.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">About Petersburg</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_234">234</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <th colspan="2"><a href="#XXI">XXI.</a></th> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><span class="smcap">The Last Campaign</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_245">245</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_xii">xii</span></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">1</span></p> - -<p class="ph1"><span class="large">THE STORY OF THE</span><br /> - -<span class="smcap">Thirty-Second Regiment</span><br /> - -<span class="large">MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY.</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="I">I.<br /> - -<i>IN GARRISON.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">THE story of the 32d Massachusetts Infantry was, -of course, in most respects like that of others, -but not in all. The immortal Topsy thought she was -not made, but “‘spect she growed.” So our regiment -was not made a regiment at the start, but it -grew to be one. Other battalions from New England -gathered into camps and acquired their preliminary -education among neighbors, and cheered by -the presence of visitors, who looked on and admired -their guard-mountings at morning, and their dress-parades -at evening; and these hardened into soldiers -by a rough experience in mud or dust on the line of -the Potomac, while our beginning was in a walled -fort, on a bleak island, isolated even from the visits -of friends, and under the most exact discipline of -<i>ante-bellum</i> regular-army rule. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">2</span></p> - -<p>Fort Warren, which was our cradle, is the outpost -of Boston, and it was very nearly, but not entirely, -completed when the war broke out. Until 1861 it -had never been occupied as a military post. The -12th and 14th Massachusetts had been in occupation -of the island while the organization of those battalions -was in progress, during the summer of that -year, and when they left, the post was somewhat -hurriedly prepared for the reception of prisoners, -a large number having been captured in North -Carolina by the column under General Burnside.</p> - -<p>Early in the autumn of the year 1861 Colonel -Justin E. Dimmock was assigned to the command at -Fort Warren. At the first outbreak of the rebellion -this patriotic officer, fortunately for the cause of the -Union, was in command at Fort Munroe, and resisting -every attempt made upon his loyalty, he held -that important post for the government under whose -flag he had fought, and in whose service he had -passed his active life.</p> - -<p>As the war progressed Fort Munroe became a -great centre for the operations of the army, and the -duties required of its commandant were too severe for -a man of Colonel Dimmock’s age and infirmities, and -he was transferred to the more quiet scenes in -Boston Harbor. A temporary garrison was detailed -from the 24th Massachusetts Infantry, then in process -of formation, but upon the application of Colonel -Dimmock, a new battalion of four companies of -infantry was raised to be used as a garrison until the -exigencies of the service required their presence -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">3</span> -elsewhere, and this body of men, called the First -Battalion Massachusetts Infantry, relieved the same -number of companies of the 24th.</p> - -<p>Company A, recruited in Hingham by Captain -(afterward Brevet-Brigadier-General) Luther Stephenson, -jr., was mustered into service November -16th, 1861, and reported for duty at the fort on the -following day. Charles A. Dearborn, jr., was First -Lieutenant, and Nathaniel French, jr., Second -Lieutenant.</p> - -<p>Company B, recruited in Concord, Massachusetts, -by Captain (afterward Brevet-Brigadier-General) -George L. Prescott, was mustered in November 15th, -1861. Cyrus L. Tay, First Lieutenant, and Isaiah -F. Hoyt, Second Lieutenant.</p> - -<p>Company C, recruited in Boston by Captain Jonathan -Pierce, was mustered in November 16th, 1861. -Joseph Austin, First Lieutenant, and Robert Hamilton, -Second Lieutenant.</p> - -<p>Company D was recruited in Gloucester, and was -almost entirely composed of fishermen and sailors. -It was commanded by Captain James P. Draper. -The late Adjutant-General James A. Cunningham -was First Lieutenant, and Stephen Rich, Second -Lieutenant.</p> - -<p>These companies were rapidly recruited, and were -immediately despatched to their post, no time being -allowed for drill, and hardly time to say good-bye. -It may be presumed that when they reported, their -discipline was nothing, and their ideas of military -order exceedingly crude. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">4</span></p> - -<p>Perhaps this was more particularly the case with -Company D, which, as we have already said, was -composed almost entirely of Gloucester fishermen,—or -it may have been the excessive hospitality of the -friends of that company, that led to a little scene immediately -upon its arrival.</p> - -<p>The more jovial of the soldiers were weeded out -at the landing, and quietly deposited in the guard-house; -the remainder were marched into the fort, -and soon after to the cook house, where an ample -supper of soft bread and tea awaited them. A -few months later such a repast would have been -hailed as the height of luxury, but by the raw sailor-soldiers -it was now regarded with contempt. The -loaves, instead of being devoted to their proper use -as the staff of life, were converted into missiles, and -the air was alive with them,—the dim evening light -favoring an impartial distribution.</p> - -<p>In the midst of the racket, Colonel Dimmock appeared -upon the scene, lantern in hand, and immediately -received plump in the head one of the finest -of the loaves, which, with a refinement of ingenuity, -had been dipped in hot tea. The scene which followed -was one not easily to be forgotten. The outraged -old soldier dashed in among the turbulent -men, and by his habit of command at once overawed -and controlled them. Ordering them into a -line, throwing some into position apparently by main -strength, he passed along the ranks, throwing his -light into each face until he came to the real culprit, -six solid feet of man and tar, whose face declared -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">5</span> -his guilt. Seizing the burly giant by the arm, the -old colonel fairly dragged him out of the casemate, -as if he had been a child; but when the man had -humbled himself sufficiently, protesting that “he -didn’t mean anything,” the commandant dismissed -him after a brief but forcible lecture on discipline, -and an injunction to beware of any second offence.</p> - -<p>Late in November the battalion organization was -completed by the appointment of the Field and -Staff, Francis J. Parker, Major; Charles K. Cobb, -Adjutant; and George W. Pearson, Quartermaster; -and the Major assumed command December 2d, -1861.</p> - -<p>The Post-Commander, Colonel Justin E. Dimmock, -was also Colonel of the First United States -Artillery, and the headquarters of the regiment was -with him; but with the exception of the excellent -band of the regiment, there were none other of its -officers or men at the post.</p> - -<p>Fort Warren at this time was occupied as a depot -for Confederate war and state prisoners—the former -consisted mainly of some 800 men, captured in -North Carolina, and included also a number of -Confederate officers, among whom were Commodore -Barron and Colonel Pegram; and among the -latter were the Confederate ambassadors, Mason -and Slidell, Mayor Brown, Chief of Police Kane -of Baltimore, and others.</p> - -<p>The first duty to be taught and learned under -such circumstances was guard duty, and that was no -holiday work. The daily detail consisted of about -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">6</span> -seventy-five men, and was divided into the interior -and exterior guard. During the daytime a line of -sentinels enclosed a space in front of the prisoners’ -quarters, within which they were permitted to exercise, -and these sentinels at retreat were drawn in to -the casemate entrances. Guards were also placed -at the sally-port and postern, and near the staircases -leading up to the ramparts. Outside, a picket -line entirely surrounded the fortifications; watch -being kept not only to prevent escape from within, -but also to forbid the approach of boats from the sea -or the shore.</p> - -<p>Such duty on a bleak island, exposed to the terrible -cold and storms of a New England winter, was -no pastime. Occasionally some of the outposts -would be untenable by reason of the dash of waves, -and often inspection and relief of the posts was -effected with great difficulty because of the icy condition -of the ground. In the most severe storms -the guard was replaced by patrols, each of two men, -who walked the line, one patrol being despatched -every fifteen or twenty minutes.</p> - -<p>One dark howling night the sentinel, on post -near what was called the grave-yard, reported to -the officer that a white form had twice passed -between him and the fort, and upon close questioning -the soldier admitted that he had not challenged, -because he feared it was a ghost. There was considerable -stir, in and outside the fort, until an inspection -had shown that no prisoner had escaped and -no intruder could be found. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">7</span></p> - -<p>The sentinel was allowed two hours of extra -guard duty, and an order was posted at the guard-house -denouncing severe punishment in any future -case where ghosts were allowed to pass a beat without -challenge and arrest.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Inasmuch as many who will read these pages may -never have seen the inside of a fort, a few words -descriptive of Fort Warren, may not be amiss.</p> - -<p>The Fort proper is constructed almost entirely of -hewn granite. The area enclosed is not far from -six acres, of which the parade ground occupies five. -The general form of the area is a pentagon, but at -each of its five angles a bastion projects in such -manner that every portion of the ditch which surrounds -the walls, can, in case of need, be reached -by musketry and howitzers from the casemates.</p> - -<p>This area is surrounded by casemated walls, -which are in fact huge bomb-proof buildings, -structures of stone with heavy arches of brick to -support the great mass of earth which is required to -protect them from shells thrown from mortars. In -these casemates are quarters for the officers and -men of the garrison, magazines for ammunition, -storehouses for all manner of supplies, a hospital of -generous dimensions, a huge cistern for water, an -ice-house, cook, and mess-room, besides space for a -large battery of heavy guns facing towards the sea. -Some of these vaulted chambers are lighted through -the outer walls by means of embrasures calculated -for howitzers, or by loop-holes intended for defence -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">8</span> -by musketry. Others look out upon the parade -ground, and have upon that face the appearance of -stone dwellings of one storey, entered by ordinary -doorways, and lighted through spacious windows. -Those which occupy the northwest side of the -parade are of two stories, one being below the level -of the interior grade. These are for use as officers’ -quarters, and during the war, those which are -entered from the doors nearest to, and on either side -of the entrance arch, were occupied by the civilians -and officers among the prisoners confined in the -fort.</p> - -<p>The interior depth of the casemates, from the -inner to the outer wall, does not vary much from -sixty feet, giving ample space, equal indeed to the -depth of a large city residence. The barracks for -the soldiers are divided into rooms, generally about -sixty by twenty feet, and during a part of the war -many of them were assigned to the enlisted men -who were prisoners.</p> - -<p>A full garrison for Fort Warren would be not far -from twenty-five hundred men, and that number -could be quartered in the casemates.</p> - -<p>Above these buildings are the ramparts, on which -the chief part of the armament is placed, and these -ramparts are walled in by a parapet of about five feet -in height, of very thick masonry, intended to protect -the men while working the guns, from the fire -of an enemy. These ramparts are now provided -with a full armament of ten inch and fifteen inch -guns, placed as near together as convenience in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">9</span> -working would permit, but in our day the greater -part of the guns were four inch and thirty-two -pounders, the casemate battery alone, consisting of -eight inch columbiads.</p> - -<p>The entire equipment of the Fort comprises over -three hundred of these heavy guns, of which some -seventy may always be concentrated upon any one -point of the channel which they defend. Outside, -and immediately surrounding the walls of the casemated -fort is a fosse, or ditch, some fifty feet in -width, and outside of this are other defences, (which -outwardly, are earthworks,) including an exterior -curtain on the north, a ravelin on the south, and a -water battery on the northwest, the whole composing -in fact a fortress of great strength, even in these -days of iron-clads and great guns.</p> - -<p>To one who thoroughly explores the Island there -will recur vivid reminiscences of the mysterious castles -of romance and of history. He will find here a -sally-port, a postern, a drawbridge, and a portcullis. -Here, too, are passages under ground and in the -walls; turret staircases, huge vaulted apartments, -and safe and dark dungeons, the ways to and -through which may be set down upon the plans of -the engineer corps, but are familiar to no living -man. One can be easily bewildered among the -crooks and turns, the ups and downs of the corridors, -and it needs only a dark and windy night to -make almost real the romantic descriptions of the -Castle of Udolfo, with its clanging sounds of chains, -its sweeping gusts of air, its strange moanings and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">10</span> -howlings, and the startling noise of some sudden -clang of a shutting door reverberating among the -arches.</p> - -<p>More than twelve years had passed since the 32d -Regiment left Fort Warren for more stirring scenes, -when the writer for the first time since that day, -again visited the Island.</p> - -<p>Escaping for a time from the courteous hospitality -of the officers of the post, he started alone through -the once accustomed scenes. Grim visaged war -had smoothed his wrinkled front. There were no -sentinels to challenge or salute; no familiar faces in -the well-remembered quarters. Even the uniforms -were changed; officers seemed to be wearing sergeants’ -stripes on their trousers, and unknown ornaments -on their shoulders. There were women about -the landing, newspapers in the guard-house (!), and -a peaceful fishing pole and tackle leaned quietly -against the sole survivor of all our sentry boxes.</p> - -<p>The doorways to the officers’ casemates were -shielded from the hot sun by gaily painted, veranda-like -porches, about which shrubs and vines, with -bright foliage and blossoms, glistened in the sunlight, -and in the very room where erstwhile Mason -and Slidell pursued the warlike game of poker, and -spat upon the bare flooring, there was a most ladylike -parlor, with carpets, mirrors, and an attractive-looking -case of book-shelves, well loaded with -seemly books.</p> - -<p>Again was paced the line of our outposts. Every -step awakened old memories—every pebble seemed -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">11</span> -a friend; but there was no ice upon the glacis or -the “shelf” at post eighteen, and instead of the -cold winds, came grateful breezes from the sea, -which no longer leaden in color dashed against the -rock, but blue and smooth basked in the hot noon-day, -and laughingly rippled on the beach. It would -have been a sad walk but for the beauty of the -summer scenes—it would have been a joyous one -but for clinging memories.</p> - -<p>During the time of our stay in garrison at Fort -Warren, the battalion was increased to six companies -by the addition of Companies E and F, -recruited during the winter.</p> - -<p>Company E was raised in the Old Colony by Captain -Cephas C. Bumpus. First Lieutenant, Josiah -C. Fuller; Second Lieutenant, Lyman B. Whiton. -The Company was mustered into service December -7th, 1861, and joined immediately.</p> - -<p>Company F was enlisted in Boston, also by Captain -Bumpus, who was detailed for the duty, and -was mustered in about the first of March, 1861, its -officers being, Captain, James A. Cunningham; -First Lieutenant, Charles K. Cobb, (Adjutant); -Second Lieutenant, William H. Gertz.</p> - -<p>The breaking in of the men was upon the regular-army -system; first each man was “set up” by himself, -then the drill was in squads, in increasing numbers, -and afterward in company and battalion. -When the weather was such as absolutely to forbid -out-of-door drill, the men were taught in the school -of artillery, and practiced on the great guns in the -casemate battery. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">12</span></p> - -<p>The most exact discipline was necessarily maintained, -and as soldierly discipline is only to be -obtained by close attention to minutiæ—not even -things apparently trifling were neglected. The fact -that one button of a soldier’s overcoat was not fastened, -was noted and the parade was stopped until -the defect was remedied. No soldier was allowed -to sit in the presence of an officer. The regulation -salutes proper to each rank were required and paid -by officers and men, sentinels and the guard. -Adhering to the letter of the regulations, our manual -was that of Scott, because we were armed with muskets, -not rifles. Every nook and corner of every -barrack and bunk, and every portion of the dress of -every officer and man, must at all times be satisfactory -to the keen and critical eye of an “old army” -Colonel.</p> - -<p>All of this was needed to make perfect soldiers, -and all of it was readily accepted and observed by -the men, more than nine-tenths of whom were -American born, in order that they might become -good soldiers. Singularly enough it was more difficult -to bring the officers to exact the honors due to -rank, than the soldiers to yield them.</p> - -<p>Army officers often expressed their surprise at the -rapidity with which a command so essentially native, -was brought to the extreme of army discipline, and -almost without punishment. This result was a -complete proof that intelligent Americans can be -brought into a state of thorough and exact discipline -more readily, by reason of their intelligence, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">13</span> -than the uneducated immigrants who were once -thought to make better soldiers because of their -comparative ignorance. Of course there were occasional -extra hours of guard duty for men returning -from leave on shore—people on the mainland were -so very hospitable—but rarely was any more serious -correction requisite.</p> - -<p>There was one case, a second offence perhaps, -where the sinner was put on special log duty, and -he has since declared that it was sufficiently severe -to keep him dry for six months. Two or three -sticks of four-foot firewood, not excessively large, -but good fair size, were placed in the bastion near -the officers’ quarters, and as many more at the -extreme end of the parade, near the postern. The -offender was ordered to shoulder a billet from one -bastion, and to carry it in “common time” to the -other; there to lay it down, and taking up another, -to return over his beat and deposit it at the place of -departure—and so on for several hours. The punishment -consisted, not in the laborious character of -his occupation, but in the fact that he knew it was -useless labor, and that everybody else knew it also. -The occasional inquiries or remarks of comrades -about the profits of the carrying trade in fuel, may -very likely have aggravated the penalty.</p> - -<p>Bearing in mind the fact that Great Britain was -wroth at the seizure of the rebel envoys, and connecting -that with the other fact that a large fleet of -British men-of-war was gathering at Halifax, it -seemed possible that a demonstration might be made -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">14</span> -for the recovery of the lost plenipos; and it was, -perhaps, natural that some interest should be felt as -to our ability to repel attack, or to endure blockade, -and, of course, as to the amount of our stores of -food and ammunition.</p> - -<p>Perhaps it was just as well for us at this time that -no enemy appeared, for our stock of fixed ammunition -consisted of thirty rounds, borrowed from Fort -Independence. We were unable to salute the Governor, -on his visit, for want of powder, and months -passed before our magazines contained shot, shell, -or powder in any more respectable quantity.</p> - -<p>The duties of our battalion at Fort Warren were -of course entirely military. The affairs of the -prisoners were administered by Colonel Dimmock -and his staff,—one of whom inspected the quarters -every day to see that all of the prisoners were present; -and all their correspondence and communications -with the outside world passed under the eye of -the post officers.</p> - -<p>No prisoners could be better cared for or more -considerately treated. Each was allowed the full -ration of a soldier, and was even allowed to commute -the ration and expend the money for other -food. A liberal portion of the lading of the steamer, -whose daily visit was our only tie to the continent, -was made up of purchases and gifts for these guests -of the nation, and their messes were always abundantly -supplied both with solids and fluids.</p> - -<p>Mr. Mason was a portly gentleman, evidently -accustomed to good living; rather jovial in his appearance, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">15</span> -and courteous in his manner. He took -matters very easily, and seemed in no haste to depart. -Mr. Slidell, on the contrary, a lean and -dyspeptic looking man, was fretful and impatient, -and evidently chafed much under his confinement.</p> - -<p>Mayor Brown, of Baltimore, whose case was one -of those which perhaps could not be entirely avoided, -of unjust confinement, was always easy and -bland in manner, and genial and affable to all about -him, contrasting very decidedly with Kane, the -Chief of the Baltimore Police, who was a thoroughly -ugly specimen of a Maryland rebel.</p> - -<p>Later on we had the pleasure, for a time, to see -with us General Tilghman, a merry, happy-go-lucky -officer, and General Buckner, an excellent -specimen of the ramrod soldier.</p> - -<p>The two last named were, for a time, by special -order from Washington, kept in solitary confinement,—that -is to say, each was assigned to a separate -apartment in the basement of the commandant’s -quarters. Their rooms and their doors were exactly -opposite each other, and a sentinel was posted in the -passage to prevent escape or communication between -them. Occasionally, when the weather was warm, -they were allowed to leave their doors open, and on -one such occasion the officer on his rounds at night -found the sentinel slumbering on the floor, and the -<i>solitary</i> prisoners having a good time together in one -of the apartments. That soldier was not allowed -to sleep a great deal for the next day or two.</p> - -<p>Colonel Dimmock declined an earnest invitation -to pass Christmas eve and day in Boston, because, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">16</span> -as he said, he knew that among southern people it -was held to be a Christian duty to be royally drunk -at yule tide, and his presence might be important. -It was our impression that no violence was done to -southern principles on that occasion.</p> - -<p>The first day of January, 1862, came, bringing -with it a brisk gale of wind from the eastward, thick -lead-colored clouds, and occasional dashes of rain. -It brought also a great excitement to our humdrum -community. A steam tug came to the wharf early -in the morning, and its sole passenger, a civilian, -was escorted to the quarters of the Commandant; -then the Colonel went in person to the quarters of -our Major, and there was a conference; then the -drum-call sounded for parade earlier than usual, and -by so many extraordinary occurrences our population -was “convulsed with excitement.” Very soon -everybody knew that an order had been received -for the release of Mason and Slidell. There was a -great stir among the first circles of the prisoners, -and we afterward learned that they and the envoys -imagined that honors and salutes would be paid upon -their departure. But in this expectation they were -destined to disappointment. The precautions of -Colonel Dimmock entirely prevented any semblance -of honors, and even suppressed the exhibition of -such curious interest as would naturally have attended -the incident.</p> - -<p>Two sections of men, specially detailed, were so -posted as to prevent any person ascending to the -ramparts. The battalion was kept under arms and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">17</span> -exercise upon the parade, and the prisoners were -notified that unless they would give their parole not -to make any noisy demonstrations, they would be -confined to their casemates. And so it happened, -that, except a noiseless waving of hands and handkerchiefs -from their fellow-prisoners, the envoys received -no attention from any one. As they passed -out from the fort, escorted only by the Commandant, -the officer of the day, and the agent of the State -Department, the battalion stood in line of battle, -with their backs to the envoys, with ordered arms -and at parade rest. As they passed the guard -house, the guard also stood at parade rest, Colonel -Dimmock having waived the salute due to his rank, -for fear that it might be claimed as an honor to his -departing guests.</p> - -<p>The prolonged gale had caused the tide to flood -the wharf, so that it was not easy or pleasant to pass -over it to the tug boat. When underweigh not one -person, except the sentinels on the outposts, could be -seen on the island, and the driving rain and wind -soon forced the passengers to seek the shelter of the -cabin, which they found profusely decorated with -the American flag. It is said that Mason spat and -Slidell swore the whole of the rough voyage to -Provincetown, in which secluded harbor a British -man-of-war received them from the tug, without any -demonstration, and at once put to sea.</p> - -<p>Among the prisoners at the fort was one Keene -(?), who was kept in close confinement in a small, -triangular room in the casemates, the only light to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">18</span> -which came through a loophole in the masonry. He -was a sailor, and it was said that he had attempted to -blow up the frigate <i>Congress</i> with all on board, with -which horrible design he had enlisted in our navy. -He was offered greater liberty if he would promise -not to attempt an escape, but the offer was declined. -Afterward he refused to take an oath of allegiance -as the only condition for his release, and he was -probably let loose at last without condition.</p> - -<p>We had a great desire to ascertain what time -would be required for the formation of the battalion -in case of night alarm, but Colonel Dimmock would -not permit the beating of the long-roll for a mere -experiment, because false alarms were forbidden -by the regulations. Happily that invaluable code -placed no restriction on the hours for parade, and -when, by the absence of the Colonel, our Major was -left in command of the post, the information was -obtained.</p> - -<p>Tattoo had been sounded, roll-call was over, -lights in the barracks were all out, and the men in -bed and generally asleep. An extra guard was -quietly posted in front of the prisoners’ quarters, -and a verbal message summoned the officers to headquarters.</p> - -<p>When all were assembled they were told that it -was desirable to know how soon, under such circumstances, -the battalion could be assembled, properly -equipped and ready for duty.</p> - -<p>The order was given at eight minutes past ten,—the -officers were obliged to equip themselves and to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">19</span> -turn out, form and march their men on to the parade; -but in less than five minutes the line was formed, -with three-fourths of the whole force present. The -inspection showed few deficiencies (one man, to be -sure, forgot his trousers), and the experiment was -quite satisfactory.</p> - -<p>We were not without occupation, nor even without -our amusements through the long winter. The -officers were fully occupied, in the intervals of duty, -in bonfing over the tactics. To learn and teach -both the infantry and artillery manual, as well as -battalion movements, and at the same time to perform -the various duties of the post, implied no great -amount of leisure,—on the part of the officers at -least. But time was found for an occasional evening -entertainment, including one or two excellent -concerts.</p> - -<p>One evening there was a musical soiree in the -quarters of Mr. Buell, one of the post staff, and two -or three of the prisoners were present by his invitation; -among them was Colonel Pegram, of Virginia, -who, being invited to sing, complied, and to the -surprise of everybody selected the disloyal song, -“My Maryland,” which he sang well to his own -guitar accompaniment. When he stopped, there -ensued for a minute or two an absolute and ominous -silence, which was broken by our Captain Draper, -who, with his ringing voice, began the patriotic -song, “Vive l’America.” The chorus was taken up -by all the Union officers present, singing perhaps -with more fervor than accuracy:— -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">20</span></p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“United we stand, divided we fall,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Union forever—freedom to all,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Throughout the wide land our motto shall be<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Vive l’America, land of the free.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>At the close of the song Colonel Pegram complimented -the singing, and frankly apologized for his -discourtesy.</p> - -<p>At times the interior of the fort seemed better -adapted for use as a skating rink than as a parade-ground. -In the worst of such times the dress-parades -were omitted, and guard-mounting took -place in the casemates; but the marching of the -reliefs over glare ice, in a high wind, did not convey -the idea of an exact military movement.</p> - -<p>One of the men, engaged on a job of repairs, -loaded up a light hand-cart with five or six boards, -and essayed to push the load before him from the -north-west bastion to the opposite side of the fort, -while the ice was as smooth as a mirror, and a northwest -gale blowing furiously. It was a slow process -at the start, but when the team emerged from under -the lee of the walls, the gale seized the whole concern, -boards, cart, and man, and sent them in -detached parties, whirling over the ice field.</p> - -<p>Our winter was a new experience to the North -Carolina men, and no doubt they have yet great -stories to tell of the snow and ice and cold, of a sea-coast -everywhere bounded by rocks, and of a -country where the woods were not all pines. And -no doubt their hearers try to look as though they -believed it all, but mutter, possibly, some truisms -about soldiers’ stories. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">21</span></p> - -<p>One day in February, 1862, just after the mail-boat -had left the fort not to return until the next day, -we saw all about us on the main land indications -that some joyful incident had occurred. All day -long flags were profusely displayed and salutes were -fired up and down the coast, and at night the -horizon sparkled with fireworks and bonfires. For -twenty-four hours we were left to guess at the cause -of this rejoicing, but at last we too heard of the capture -of Fort Donelson and had our celebration.</p> - -<p>We always gave Colonel Dimmock credit for an -act of kind thoughtfulness on this occasion. When -the news came he remembered that he had an engagement -“on shore,” and announced that he should -be absent for a day. “Of course,” he said, “you will -fire a salute, and I don’t like the sound of great -guns.” The fact was, no doubt, that he feared that -his presence might be a restraint upon our joviality, -and for that reason he took himself away. There -had been no talk of anything except the salute, but -as he left the fort he turned to the Major and said, -in his absent-minded way, “By the by, Major, when -the men are allowed a little unusual liberty, unusual -discretion is needed on the part of the commanding -officer, you know.”</p> - -<p>From the time required to prepare for that salute, -it was evident that the <i>Alabama</i> might have steamed -up the channel and into Boston harbor before we -could have brought any guns to bear upon her, but at -noon the guns were manned and the salute was fired. -While the preparations were in progress, the band-master -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">22</span> -of the 1st Artillery presented himself at headquarters -to ask a favor. The last gun he had fired -was the last from Fort Sumter, and he now requested -permission to fire the first gun of the salute -for the victory. Of course he was allowed to do so, -and he was cheered as he went to his station.</p> - -<p>The Colonel was very chary of that band and we -had never had any benefit from it; but the Post being -<i>pro tempore</i> under the command of our Major, they -were turned out and made useful. All drills were -suspended for the day. The men, in small parties, -were allowed to stroll outside the walls. Some -luxuries were added to the ration. The band played -and the men danced to its music and skylarked -generally. At night there was an illumination, -masquerading, and singing, and for once tattoo did -not sound at the time set down in the orders.</p> - -<p>A week later a detachment of prisoners from Fort -Donelson was added to our establishment, mostly -long, gaunt men, given to wearing sombrero hats, -and chewing tobacco. With this party came Generals -Buckner and Tilghman.</p> - -<p>In February too, the last of the private soldiers, -held at the fort as prisoners of war, were sent south -to be exchanged. When the transport was ready -for the embarkation, four negroes, servants to -officers who were about to return home, asked to -be allowed to accompany their masters. Colonel -Dimmock, becoming satisfied that they preferred -to go back to North Carolina, consented to allow -them to do so, but took the not unnecessary precaution -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">23</span> -to have other evidence of the fact that they -returned to slavery on their own motion, sending -them with his orderly to the Major with the -request that he would examine the “boys” and -satisfy himself as to whether they went of their own -accord—which they certainly did.</p> - -<p>As good-weather days became more frequent, our -battalion, now of six companies, settled down more -regularly to its work. At the request of our commanding -officer the full code of discipline, with no -abatement because we were volunteers, was the rule -by which we were governed, and no one was more -surprised at the result than Colonel Dimmock.</p> - -<p>With the end of April, 1862, we had fairly drilled -through the book, and on the first day of May the -battalion was reviewed by Governor Andrew, and -exercised in battalion movements in presence of the -Governor and a staff which had become critical in -military movements. At the close of the parade, -Colonel Dimmock, who was not wont to abound in -compliments, publicly congratulated the Major as -the commander of a body of thoroughly-disciplined -soldiers.</p> - -<p>The Union armies were now everywhere victorious, -and at the North we expected every day to -hear that the rebels had come to that “last ditch.” -Wearying of the monotony, and in expectation of an -early peace, the Major resigned, and on the 2d of -May was relieved from duty and returned to his -business life. To him the parting was unexpectedly -trying, but people cannot be shut up together for five -months without loving or hating each other. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">24</span></p> - -<p>For weeks the duty went on, the command -devolving upon Captain Stephenson, and the warm -spring weather and longer days were improved to -the utmost in keeping away the possibility of rust.</p> - -<p>The official acceptance of the Major’s resignation -had been received at the Post, but had not been promulgated, -when on the night following Sunday, -May 25th, at an hour or more past midnight, a steam -tug landed him at the Post, and a half hour later -everybody was awake, and the fort was alive with -the news that since the last sundown the 1st Battalion -had become the 32d Massachusetts Infantry—that -Major Parker was promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy—that -marching orders had been received—that -Banks had been driven down the Shenandoah -Valley—that Washington was menaced by the -forces under Stonewall Jackson—that the country -had again been summoned to the defence of the -capital—that at last our time had come.</p> - -<p>Whoever may read these sketches will pardon so -much digression as will be required to describe one -of the critical scenes of those exciting days. Sunday -evening, after ten o’clock, this writer was sitting -in his library, having just finished the last cigar -before bed-time, when there came a ring at the doorbell—one -of those rings that tell a story of haste -and excitement.</p> - -<p>At the door was a messenger, who informed the -Major that the Governor desired to see him without -delay, and that a carriage waited his convenience. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">25</span></p> - -<p>There was a word to say to the wife above stairs—there -were boots and overcoat to be donned, but -in two or three minutes the carriage was whirling -through the empty streets, and soon pulled up at the -rear entrance to the Capitol.</p> - -<p>In the office of the Adjutant-General was Governor -Andrew, busily writing at his desk and alone. His -Excellency had remembered a parting request upon -the occasion of the review, that the 1st Battalion -should not be allowed to go to the front under a -stranger’s command. The Major was shown the dispatches -of the night, and in them read a story of -frantic terror at Washington and earnest pleading -for speedy succor. By them the Governor was, -within the limits of Massachusetts, invested with all -of the President’s power to command the United -States forces, to raise troops, to transfer garrisons, -to provide supplies and transportation, and through -them all ran the tones of extremest panic and most -earnest entreaty for help—speedy help.</p> - -<p>The Governor stated his intention under this -authority to order away the six hundred men of the -1st Battalion and offered to reappoint the commander. -The offer was of course accepted and an hour -quickly passed in drawing orders and requisitions, -and completing arrangements for the earliest possible -departure of the command. The company of -heavy artillery at Fort Independence was ordered -to remove to Fort Warren, and the independent -companies of Cadets were ordered there for garrison -duty. There were orders, too, for levy <i>en masse</i> of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">26</span> -the state militia for active service, and provision -made for their equipment, subsistence, and rapid -transportation.</p> - -<p>Officers of the Governor’s and of the army staff -came and went. Red tape broke at every order, -and during this hour, as also for one nearer morning, -while everybody strove to do his utmost to accomplish -results which seemed almost impossible, -Governor Andrew was the busiest of the workers, -radiant with the joy of one who possesses great -powers, and who knows that he is wielding them -effectually. All through the night came over the -wires appeals for help and for haste, and always the -Governor was cheery and full of faith, that, although -the end might be farther away than we had hoped, -that end would be our success.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was a night, too, of hard work at Fort Warren—there -were rations to be issued and cooked for the -march; there were equipments to be supplied, knapsacks -to be packed, property to be turned over, -unnecessaries to be rid away, and last letters to be -written; but all was done before the relief garrison -reported. At noon on Monday the regiment was -relieved, and for the last time passed out of the -sally-port and was on the march—glad to be out of -jail, some said—glad to be moving to the front; -all desiring to see that actual war for which they -had passed through long and careful training, and -anxious as new troops can be, for a share in the -realities of the campaign. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">27</span></p> - -<p>And so, embarking on the ferry-boat <i>Daniel Webster</i>, -we left Fort Warren, our cradle, with cheers -for the good old Colonel, and with all the verses of -the John Brown chorus ringing from six hundred -throats to the accompaniment of our own drum -corps. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">28</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="II">II.<br /> - -<i>ON OUR OWN HOOK.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">SUNDAY, May 25th, 1862, the sun went down -on a people rejoicing in the confident expectation -of coming victory and an early peace. That -sun next rose on a population deeply agitated with -news of military disaster, but more warlike and more -determined than ever. The appeals of the War -Office at Washington, and the summons of our own -Governor, met with an enthusiastic response; the -militia flocked to the rendezvous in Boston, and the -city scenes were almost a repetition of the Lexington -Day of the previous year.</p> - -<p>Not knowing that the Regiment was expected to -appear on the Common, but knowing that our orders -were urgent, the 32d marched by the most direct -route through the city and to the railway, its wide -platoons occupying the full space in the widest -streets, bearing no flag, marching to its own field -music, everywhere cheered by the excited populace, -and drawing attention and applause by its unpretentious -but soldierly appearance.</p> - -<p>At the Old Colony station, where a train was -waiting, we stacked for the last time our smooth-bore -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">29</span> -muskets, and turned them over to Quartermaster -McKim. A long delay, occasioned by the unexpected -celerity of our movements, gave officers and -men an opportunity to exchange greetings with and -take leave of their friends, of whom the vast crowd -seemed chiefly to be composed.</p> - -<p>There were meetings and partings between -parents and children, husbands and wives, brothers -and sisters; there were friends of the men who -desired to enlist and to go with them, and others -who asked brief furloughs for those they loved, that -the suddenness of departure might be a little softened -to those at home; but on the part of the soldiers -there were no such applications. There were messages -from many a quivering lip, sent to those who -had not heard of the marching orders; there was -grasping of hands, man with man, which meant more -than tongues could say; and wives were folded by -husband’s arms so tenderly as may never be but -either in days of early love or at the approach of -final separation.</p> - -<p>And yet there was no cloud of sadness in the -scene; on every side were words of cheer and -encouragement—of loving hope and patriotic devotion; -and when a light-hearted soldier, whose home -was so far away that none of his kin were there to -say good-bye, asked if there was nobody there to kiss -him, he came near being smothered by a crowd of -volunteers ready to officiate, not only for his mother, -but for all the rest of his female ancestry.</p> - -<p>At last came the regimental stores, for which we -had waited, and with the call for “all aboard,” the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">30</span> -last ties were broken, the last cheers were given, -and the train drew slowly out from the station and -from the city. But not away from tokens of good -will. The country, too, was alive. Flags were -streaming from every flag-staff, waving from the -windows of the houses, and drooping from the spires -of churches.</p> - -<p>Men, women, and children of all ages were at -cottage doors and roadway crossings, and crowded -the platforms at every station, to say or wave good-bye -and God-speed to the foremost of the transport -trains. We were soon at Fall River, on the steamer, -and weary with excitement, the men speedily turned -in and slept.</p> - -<p>For us there was next day no Broadway parade -in New York city, but landing at Jersey City there -was a haversack breakfast, and after some delay, -another train, and we were off for Philadelphia, -through a country whose people, in hamlet and in -town, cheered the unknown soldiery, who all day -long poured through toward the seat of war. At -Philadelphia we shared the bounteous hospitality of -the citizens, who provided most thoughtfully for all -the troops who passed their gates. There was a -long march through wide and straight streets, then -another railway embarkation, and then a long, -tedious, hesitating ride, reaching through the night, -and it was early morning when we arrived at Baltimore -and woke the drowsy people with the sound -of Yankee Doodle as we marched through to the -Washington railway. Here we found the 7th New -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">31</span> -York militia waiting in the street for transportation -to the Capital. More successful than they, we -secured a train, which, after several hours, delivered -us safely in Washington, where we were glad -to learn that we were the first troops to arrive on the -call of the President, and that again Massachusetts -was in the advance.</p> - -<p>Then followed a prolonged struggle with red tape, -which would have told us, even if there had been no -other source of information, that the scare was over -and Washington safe. Before we could present our -requisitions for camp equipage, the office hours had -passed, the officials were deaf to all our entreaties, -and although we arrived as early as 2 P. M., we -were compelled that night to occupy the hard -floors of one of the railway buildings.</p> - -<p>When we came to look about us we were surprised -to find that ours was the only infantry regiment at -Washington, and we were poor lone orphans. We -wanted tents, supplies, and a wagon train, but our -requisitions were denied, because our Brigadier General -had not endorsed his approval. We attempted -to explain that we had no Brigadier, and all Staff-dom -stood aghast,—unable to take in the idea that -there could be such a thing as a regiment with no -brigadier.</p> - -<p>Verily, we might have died of starvation but for -the kindness of Adjutant General Townsend, who -officially made a special order from the headquarters -of the army, to suit our case, and personally -suggested a site near the Washington Navy Yard, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">32</span> -known as Camp Alexander, as a convenient locality -for our camp. The site was inspected, approved, -and speedily occupied by us, and here passed four -weeks of halcyon days. Our camp was pitched on -a high bluff overlooking the eastern branch of the -Potomac. The air was that of balmy June. No -brigadier worried us—no up-and-away orders disturbed -us, and thanks to General Townsend’s special -order, our supplies were ample and regular.</p> - -<p>But it was no idle time. A battalion which had -always been restricted to the limits of an island fort, -had occasion for much new practice, and the drills -went briskly on. Especially was there need for -practising in the use of legs, before marching orders -should come, and therefore, every other day the -drills of the battalion comprised also a march, growing -longer day by day, until an eight-mile march -was easily accomplished.</p> - -<p>Our evening parades became quite an attraction -for visitors. Congressmen, senators, and even cabinet -secretaries came to be frequent guests, and the -sunshine of ladies’ presence, unknown to our previous -experience, gave brilliancy to our lines and -encouragement to our men.</p> - -<p>Washington was at this time in a state of siege, -or according to our American phrase, under martial -law. The great army, which a few months earlier -had given to the district the appearance of a military -camp, had moved on toward Richmond. One -column was wading up the Peninsular, one was -watching in the Shenandoah Valley, one was guarding -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">33</span> -the Piedmont Gaps, while McDowell, on the -banks of the Rappahannock, was waiting the turn -of events, and hoping for orders to join the force -under McClellan, and so on to Richmond.</p> - -<p>The chain of detached forts about the Capital, -were, however, fully garrisoned, and in the city a -force of cavalry was doing the work of a provost -guard. Mounted sentinels were stationed at the -street corners, and detachments patrolled the outlying -wards. The railway station was guarded, and -passengers leaving town were obliged to pass the -inspection of the soldiery. At the depots of the -commissary’s and the quartermaster’s stores, at the -entrances to hospitals, about the offices of the -departments, and at the door of the Executive Mansion, -sentries were posted day and night. One -was rarely out of sight and hearing of officers and -orderlies, as they galloped over the rough pavements -or trailed their sabres on the walks, and -everywhere came and went the springless supply-wagons -of the army, with their six-mule teams and -postilion drivers.</p> - -<p>All this appearance of military rule and ward was -no useless show. The city was full of enemies and -spies. A large part of the resident population was -hostile to the North. Very frequently at the -approach of uniformed men, ladies gathered their -skirts to prevent contaminating touch, and children -shook their tiny fists and made grimaces of dislike.</p> - -<p>If there seemed to be exceptional cases where -officers were welcomed by secessionists, men or -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">34</span> -women, the attentions were apt to end in a request -for aid to procure passes through our lines, or in -wily cross-examination about posts or movements of -the troops. There was but little tinsel; except at -the barracks of the marine corps, where old traditions -were preserved, there were no epaulettes, no -chapeaux, no plumes, but everything spoke of real -war service.</p> - -<p>He who visits Washington now will find it hard to -realize that that beautiful capital is the same as the -dust and mud-covered town of 1862. He who has -known it only as the beleaguered city of the war, -would almost fail to recognize it in its changed condition.</p> - -<p>It seemed at times as if we had been lost or forgotten -by the war department; but an occasional -order, or the call for some report, betrayed a semi-consciousness -of our existence. None of the authorities -could take in the idea that we had only six companies, -and when a funeral escort was wanted for -the body of Lieutenant-Colonel Palmer, of the engineers, -the order came to detail six companies, under -a Lieutenant-Colonel, for that duty, and our commanding -officer thereupon detailed himself and his -full command.</p> - -<p>This escort was, in all our history, the only instance -of show duty. Our newly-joined Assistant-Surgeon -Faxon, with such daring as could come -only from raw ignorance, volunteered to take the -compliments of our commander to the General commanding -the Marine Corps, and to ask for the loan -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">35</span> -of his celebrated band. Whether the General was -stunned by our impudence or flattered by the Doctor’s -blandishments, may never be known, but the request -was complied with, and our march through the -crowded city was made dazzling by the great band, -with their plumed caps, scarlet coats, white trowsers, -and gorgeous equipments.</p> - -<p>Every point of military etiquette was observed in -the ceremonial; the command was in the best of -condition, and we heard with great satisfaction the -favorable comments from the crowds that thronged -our way. “It takes the regulars,” “volunteers never -could do that,” etc. And no doubt as we marched -back to our camp of spacious tents, with the full -assurance of ample rations prepared by company -cooks awaiting our arrival, our breasts swelled with -undue pride, for we saw in the future no premonitions -of the tattered and hungry crew, who bearing our -name and number, were to assist in puddling down -the sacred soil of Virginia.</p> - -<p>Within the limits of our camp was a small and old -cottage house, which being entirely unoccupied, we -took for our hospital use. Although nearly worthless -for any purpose, the owner was hunted up and -the endeavor was made to come to a settlement with -him and pay rent during its occupancy, but the proprietor -declined even to name a price, giving as his -reason that he could get more by making a claim for -it before the department, after we were gone.</p> - -<p>At this hospital we first lost a man from our ranks -by death. Hiram Varney of Gloucester, a plucky -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">36</span> -fellow, although too ill to have left the Fort, prevailed -upon the post surgeon to allow him to go with -the Regiment, but worn with the excitement and -fatigue of the march, he fell into typhus fever and -died. He was a soldier to the last. So long as he -could raise his hand, he endeavored to salute his -officers who came to the cotside, and when told of -approaching death, he regretted that it had not been -his fate to meet it in battle.</p> - -<p>There were other incidents not so lugubrious. The -waters of the Branch washed the foot of the bluff on -which our camp was pitched, and when the days -grew exceeding hot, Surgeon Adams advised that -bathing should be prohibited through the heat of -the day. Accordingly an order was published, -appointing the hours for morning and evening bathing, -and forbidding it at other times.</p> - -<p>At noon one blistering hot day, two men being -overtempted by the cool waters, were in the act of -enjoying a stolen bath, when the sergeant with a file -of the guard appeared and ordered the bathers to the -shore. Upon coming to land, they found to their -disgust that their clothing had preceded them to the -guard tent. Attended by the sergeant and his men, -the culprits were marched <i>in puris</i> up the bluff and -through the whole length of the parade ground, running -the gauntlet of the jokes and gibes of their comrades, -who turned out in force to enjoy the exhibition.</p> - -<p>For a day or two after our arrival the cows of our -secession neighbors were very troublesome. Turned -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">37</span> -out by their owners after milking in the morning, a -herd of some twenty-five or thirty head fed through -the day along the waste grounds of that part of -Washington City, and returned at evening to their -cribs. Both going and coming they habitually -passed through our lines, and about among the tents, -causing some trouble to the police guard, and much -annoyance to the men. Sentinels could not leave -their posts to chase cows, and no provision was to -be found in the tactics or regulations applicable to -this case. A provision was therefore invented. At -noon a notice was posted at the guard tent, stating -that thereafter it might be presumed that any cows -found within the limits of the camp were sent thither -by their owners, in order that the men should supply -themselves with fresh milk.</p> - -<p>When the herd returned that evening there was -exhibited a scene which defies description. Upon -each cow there attended upon the average about five -men, who with soothing words and quieting gestures, -sought an opportunity to drain the happy beeves! -A view of the camp was one of a confusing medley -of cows, and of men with tin cups, slowly and quietly -but almost continually waltzing about in every -direction. All their exertions must have resulted -in a considerable success, for the herd troubled us -no more.</p> - -<p>The guard served with loaded rifles, and when -relieved were marched to a convenient spot by the -waterside, where they emptied their guns one by -one, firing at a target; and to encourage careful practice, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">38</span> -he who made the best shot was allowed a furlough -for the rest of the day. It was of course a -matter of interest to the officers to watch the practice -and the improvement of the men. On one occasion -after the guard practice was ended, the Colonel -desiring to test the new pieces, took a rifle from the -sergeant, and by some accident his bullet hit the -bull’s eye of the target. He was complimented and -perhaps a little surprised by the unanimous shout -from the old guard, “give him a furlough.”</p> - -<p>The East Branch here must have been not far from -a quarter of a mile wide. Our shore, as has been -stated, was a high bluff, but the opposite bank was -a low interval, cultivated as a market garden, and -near the river stood the unpretentious cottage of the -cultivator. As the colonel sat one day at his tent -door, in such position that the edge of the bluff -showed in sharp relief against the blue waters of the -branch, there appeared coming up over the cliff, -escorted by a corporal, a semblance of Neptune arising -from the Sea. It was after all only the garden -farmer from over the river. He had crossed in his -punt, and his resemblance to Neptune was owing in -part to his sailor-like form and hat, but more to the -precaution he had taken to bring his paddle along -with him.</p> - -<p>His errand at headquarters was to complain that -the rifle balls at the time of target practice had -a disagreeable way of glancing over the water -and whistling about his premises, and he asked -meekly if this could not be avoided, as it “made the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">39</span> -women-folks nervous.” Of course his wish was -granted, and thereafter the guard discharged their -rifles at a target in the bank on our side of the water. -This compliance with his request resulted in a -second appearance of our Neptune, who at this time -brought two boxes of choice strawberries as a present -to the commanding officer, and an expression of -his thanks, to which he added the statement that -there never had been such a regiment encamped -near him,—“they were all gentlemen.” We wondered -what kind of troops had preceded us, that we -rose so high in his good graces merely because we -refrained from shooting at his women-folks,—but the -berries were thankfully accepted and warmly appreciated -in the mess.</p> - -<p>It was about this time that this delicious berry -became so plentiful that three hundred quarts were -issued as a special ration to the men.</p> - -<p>June 24, 1862. Orders were received to move -over to Alexandria, where a new brigade comprising -the 32d was to be organized; the order stated that the -Regiment would be met at Alexandria by a staff -officer who would conduct us to our camping ground.</p> - -<p>Alexandria being a township about ten miles in -length, the order was rather indefinite, but we -marched to the town where we found no brigadier, -no brigade, and no staff officer, and thereupon we -proceeded to make an excursion through the township -in search of one of them. We soon found an -aide-de-camp who conducted us to the locality intended, -and pointed out the ground assigned to us, -which was half a mile from any water. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">40</span></p> - -<p>This, our first real march, is worthy of notice, as -being almost the only one which was made without -loss by straggling, and the only one made in accordance -with army regulations.</p> - -<p>Six months afterward, when the allowance of -wagons was only three to each regiment, we -laughed as we remembered the twenty-three wagons -which were required for this first movement of -ours. Our route covered sixteen miles, when, if -the order had been decently explicit, only eight -miles would have been required, but we soon learned -that it was one of the customs of the service to make -the orders as blind as possible.</p> - -<p>Before nightfall our camp was made and our -guards posted. No military authority had ever -notified us of a countersign, we therefore as usual -made our own, and consequently before morning -bagged a half dozen of the officers from the -neighboring forts, who were ignorant of it.</p> - -<p>A Rhode Island Regiment, (Colonel Bliss’,) and -one from Pennsylvania arrived the next day, and for -several days we were in constant expectation of a -brigadier, but before he turned up, June 29th, an -order came for the 32d to be mustered early on the -30th by its commanding officer, and thereafter to proceed -forthwith to Alexandria, where transportation -would be in readiness to take the command to Fort -Monroe. At 11 A. M., we were in the street at -Alexandria with all our baggage train, but the General -commanding there was drunk, the Post Quartermaster -insolent, and nobody had ever heard anything -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">41</span> -about us or our transportation. After waiting -until 4 P. M., receiving no orders nor even replies -from Washington to our telegrams, we concluded to -operate on our own hook, and when the Steamer -<i>Hero</i> came to a landing near by, we took possession -of her as a “military necessity,” coaled her and -started for our destination.</p> - -<p>We found the aforesaid “military necessity” to be -a poor shattered concern, already deeply laden -with ammunition. The captain and crew were not -in an amiable frame of mind at being so unceremoniously -gobbled up. They refused to allow the men -to make coffee at the boiler fires, and when ordered -to do so, the engineers and firemen left their posts in -high dudgeon; but when they found that we had a -plenty of men competent to run the boat, and that it -was their rations, not ours, that were stopped, they -very submissively returned to their duty.</p> - -<p>We arrived at Fort Monroe early on the 2d of -July, and reported to General Dix, commanding that -post. Here we heard of the seven days fighting -across the Peninsula, and found the air full of -exciting and contradictory rumors as to the incidents -and result of the battles. Even General Dix had -no precise information as to the whereabouts of General -McClellan, but he knew that he wanted more -men and wanted them quick, and we were directed -without disembarking to proceed up the river until -we found the army. Facilities were provided for -cooking the necessary rations, and early in the afternoon, -after receiving repeated injunctions to take -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">42</span> -every precaution against falling into the hands of -the enemy, we weighed anchor and steamed away -up the James. Our heavily-laden boat could not -make the distance by daylight, and we passed the -night at anchor in the river, with steam up and a -large guard on duty, and with the early dawn were -again underweigh, in search of the army.</p> - -<p>To this time the Regiment had practically lived by -itself; it had known nothing of generals, and not -much of army men, but the time had come when it -was to be absorbed into the army as a drop into the -ocean. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">43</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="III">III.<br /> - -<i>ON THE PENINSULA.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">IT was yet early morning when we steamed over -Harrison Bar, and saw evidences of the vicinity -of the Army of the Potomac. We had previously -met quite a number of steamboats bound down the -river, apparently heavily loaded with passengers; -and now, as the river widened out into a lake or bay, -we came upon a large fleet of various kinds of crafts, -freighted with ordnance, quartermaster’s and commissary -stores, some at anchor in the river, and some -hauled up to the left bank unloading their freight. -The river banks were too high to enable us to see -beyond, but all along them were men sitting or lying -on the slopes, or bathing in the water. There were -teams of mules driven down to drink, and wagoners -using heavy whips and great oaths to persuade their -beasts to draw the loaded wains up the rough tracks, -cut diagonally into the faces of the bank.</p> - -<p>As our steamer entered upon this stirring scene -the musicians were ordered to the bows of the boat, -and we moved on with our drums beating cheerily. -We passed one long wharf, reaching out into the -river, and thereabout saw a few tents and great piles -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">44</span> -of stores on the shore; then pushing our reconnoissance -up the river, saw the army signs gradually -disappear from the banks, until at length opening a -reach of the river we could see the gunboats, the -slow booming of whose guns had been heard long -before; and here a guard-boat hailed to warn us to -go no farther.</p> - -<p>Satisfied that the wharf, which we had passed, -was the proper place for our landing, we turned and -steamed slowly in that direction. Presently a boat -put off from the bank with an officer who signalled -for the steamer to stop, came alongside, and delivered -to our Colonel a torn fragment of a second-hand -and soiled envelope, on which, in pencil, was -scrawled the following order, our first from the -headquarters of the Army of the Potomac:—</p> - -<p><i>“To commanding officer of troops on steamer. -Land your men at once and move direct up the road, -and report to me at my headquarters, where you will -be stopped. Come up with arms and ammunition -(40 or 60 cartridges each man).</i></p> - -<p class="author"> -<i>“This order is from General McClellan.</i><br /> -<br /> -<i>“F. J. PORTER, Brig. Gen.”</i><br /> -</p> - -<p>In obedience to the order we hauled up to the -wharf, and the men being already supplied with -ammunition, but little time was lost in forming upon -the pier. Leaving there a few men to unload and -guard the baggage, we moved up to the shore.</p> - -<p>It is General Trochu who writes, that upon approaching -an army from the rear in time of battle, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">45</span> -one always sees the same sights, conveying to one’s -mind the idea of a disorderly mob, and the fear of a -great disaster. Our approach to the Army of the -Potomac was from the rear in time of battle, and -our experience confirms Trochu.</p> - -<p>At the head of the wharf a mass of men were -striving to pass the guard, hoping to get away -on the steamer which had brought us. Passing -them, we looked for the road up which we were -ordered to move “direct.” In every direction, and -as far as we could see, the soil which twenty-four -hours before had been covered with promising crops -of almost ripened grain, was trodden into a deep -clay mud,—so deep and so adhesive as, in several -cases, to pull the boots and stockings from the -soldiers’ feet, and so universal as to have obliterated -every sign of the original road. Everywhere were -swarms of men in uniform, tattered and spattered -with mud, but with no perceptible organization, wading -through the pasty ground. On and near the -river bank were open boxes, barrels, casks, and bags -of provision and forage, from which each man supplied -himself without the forms of requisition, issue, or -receipt. Everywhere too were mule-wagon teams -struggling in the mire, and the air resounded with -the oaths of the drivers, the creaking of the wagons, -the voices of men shouting to each other, the bray -of hungry mules, and the noise of bugle and drum -calls, with an accompaniment of artillery firing on -land and water.</p> - -<p>To all these were added, when we appeared, -shouts, not of hearty welcome and encouragement, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">46</span> -such as we might naturally have expected from an -overtasked army to its first reinforcement, but in -derision of our clean dress and exact movements—warnings -of terrible things awaiting us close at -hand—questions as to how our patriotism was now—not -one generous cheer.</p> - -<p>Officers and men alike joined in this unseemly -behavior, and even now when we know, as we did -not then, the story of the terrible days of battle -through which they had passed, and the sufferings -that they had patiently endured, we cannot quite -forgive their unmannerly reception of a recruiting -force.</p> - -<p>Through all this we succeeded in finding General -Porter’s headquarters, and by his direction were -guided to a position a mile or more distant, and -placed in line of battle with other troops in face of a -thick wood, and then learned that we were assigned -to the brigade of General Charles Griffin, division of -General Morell, in Fitz John Porter’s, afterward -known as the Fifth army corps.</p> - -<p>As soon as we were fairly in position our Colonel -sought for the brigadier. The result was not exactly -what his fancy may have painted. On a small heap -of tolerably clean straw he found three or four -officers stretched at full length, not very clean in -appearance and evidently well nigh exhausted in -condition. One of them, rather more piratical looking -than the others, owned that he was General -Griffin, and endeavored to exhibit some interest in -the addition to his command, but it was very reluctantly -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">47</span> -that he acceded to the request that he would -show himself to the Regiment, in order that they -might be able to recognize their brigade commander.</p> - -<p>After a time however, the General mounted and -rode to the head of our column of divisions. The -Colonel ordered “attention” and the proper salute, -and said: “Men, I want you to know and remember -General Griffin, our Brigadier General.” Griffin’s -address was perhaps the most elaborate he had ever -made in public. “We’ve had a tough time men, -and it is not over yet, but we have whaled them every -time and can whale them again.”</p> - -<p>Our men, too well disciplined to cheer in the -ranks, received the introduction and the speech, so -far as was observed, in soldierly silence, but months -afterward the General told that he heard a response -from one man in the ranks who said, “Good God! is -that fellow a general.” We all came to know him -pretty well in time, and to like him too, and some of -us to mourn deeply when he died of the fever in -Texas, after the surrender.</p> - -<p>The officers of our Field and Staff found in the -edge of the wood just in front of the Regiment, a -spot somewhat drier than the average, and occupied -it, but not without opposition. A long and -very muddy corporal was gently slumbering there, -and on waking, recognized his disturbers by their -clean apparel as new comers, and thought they -might be raw. Pointing to an unexploded shell -which lay near him on the ground, he calmly -advised the officers not to stop there, as “a good -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">48</span> -many of them things had been dropping in all the -morning.” His strategy proved unsuccessful, for -he was ranked out of his comfortable quarters and -told to join his regiment.</p> - -<p>After all, the day passed without an engagement, -and the sound of guns gradually died away, until -near evening, when the Brigade was moved about -two miles away and bivouacked in a wood of holly -trees, the men making beds of green corn-stalks, -and going to them singing and laughing.</p> - -<p>After the excitement of the day all slept soundly, -but before midnight the Colonel was aroused by an -orderly to receive a circular order which stated that -owing to certain movements of the enemy, commanding -officers were to hold their commands on -the alert. Not knowing what commanding officers -were expected to do when they “held their commands -on the alert,” the Colonel accompanied the General’s -orderly to the headquarters of the 9th Massachusetts -near by, and waited while its commander was -aroused, and until he had perused the same order. -Observing that after reading it the veteran quietly -turned over and settled himself for a fresh nap, our -Colonel returned to his repose, merely taking the -precaution to have the horses saddled and bridled, -by which bit of innocent faith in orders for alert, he -lost the use of his saddle which had made an excellent -pillow. The next day we received our baggage -and moved out of the wood, pitching our camp in -regulation shape.</p> - -<p>I fear that the display of a full allowance of round -Fremont tents may have caused some heart burnings -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">49</span> -among our neighbors, who had nothing but shelter -tents. It is certain that they were still inclined to -scoff at our peculiarities, and already the demoralizing -effect of the prevalent negligence was felt in our -ranks, for one of our captains, always before rather -distinguished for the nicety of his dress, soon -appeared splashed with mud from head to foot, and -when asked why he did not remove it, he pleaded -that it was the uniform of the Army of the Potomac.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Whoever, without a vast preponderance of forces, -makes war to capture Richmond, must have the -James River for his base of supply and must be able -to control Harrison Landing.</p> - -<p>When the campaign of the Army of the Potomac -began, the iron-clad Merrimac barred access to the -James, and the Army, which by way of that River -might, without delay or loss, have flanked Magruder -back to Malvern Hill, landed at Harrison’s and -operated on Richmond over a healthy and dry -country, comparatively free from natural obstacles,—was -compelled to resort to the narrow and tortuous -Pamunkey, and to flounder among swamps and -river crossings, always exposed to fight at disadvantage, -and always weakened physically and mentally -by the malaria of the marshes.</p> - -<p>When, by the destruction of the Merrimac, the -James was made available, the mind of General -McClellan reverted to his original preference. For a -long time he waited and stretched out his right wing -to facilitate junction with McDowell, but when the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">50</span> -last hope of that aid had disappeared, he hastened to -abandon the Pamunkey for the broader and safer -James. The movement was actually in progress -when Johnston attacked what was already the rear -of McClellan’s column. During each day of that -battle-week, the trains moved and the army fought, -and every night the army abandoned the scene of a -successful defence to close in upon the banks of -the river, where alone they could hope for the supplies -which they needed and the repose they had -won.</p> - -<p>The day before we joined, these rough and grimy -troops had fought at Malvern perhaps the hardest of -their fights, and had won the most complete of all -their victories. And now they were again in communication -with the North—in possessions of the very -key to Richmond—holding Lee as it were by a cord -from any movement North, and needing only the -assistance of a tithe of the new levies to drive or -flank him further south. But it pleased God that -this should not be until years had passed away.</p> - -<p>If there be on the face of the earth a place -intended for breeding pestilence, the country about -Harrison’s and Westover was ordained to that use. -One of our officers who had travelled the wide -world all over, declared that the climate resembled -no place except Sierra Leone on the African coast. -Its reputation as an unwholesome spot is established -even among the natives of Virginia, and whoever -desires any additional testimony, need only to apply -to one who has sweltered there through July and -August. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">51</span></p> - -<p>To the natural disadvantages of the locality, were -now added those many sources of sickness which -always accompany an army. The effect of the climate -was not only debilitating to the body, but was -enervating to the will, and negligence of proper precautions -against camp diseases was added to all -other predisposing causes in reducing the strength of -the army.</p> - -<p>The 32d, almost fresh from the sea air of New -England, suffered undoubtedly more than those regiments -which had been in some degree acclimated. -Almost every officer and man was affected. For -weeks over one-third of the command was on the -sick list, and not less than a hundred and fifty men -who then left the Regiment for hospital or on sick -leave, never returned to our colors.</p> - -<p>Such a mixture of moisture and drouth, of mud -and dust, cannot be conceived. The air was filled -at times with an impalpable dust which was actually -a visible malaria. The marsh near our camp was -beautiful to see, white with its vast numbers of -plants like lilies which threw up great spikes of -flowers, but the excess of perfume was so sickening -as but little to be preferred to the odor of carrion, -which came to us when the wind changed to the -westward.</p> - -<p>Men sickened and died in a day, and the whole -Regiment lost its brisk military ways and degenerated -very nearly to the shiftless, listless level of the -rest of the army. Drills could not be kept up, -parades were discontinued, and the attention of the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">52</span> -officers was concentrated upon the preservation of -cleanliness in the camp, the improvement of the -food, and the necessary duties. Here occurred the -first death among our officers, for Lieutenant Nathaniel -French, jr., died August 9th of the malarial -fever.</p> - -<p>Large details were made from the Regiment for -guards, our reputation for that duty having become -unpleasantly good. Eighty men and three officers -were at one time serving as guards over the quartermaster’s -stores, on the river bank. It was while -they were there, that enterprising John Reb. brought -some field pieces down to Coggins’ Point, just -opposite to us on the James, and opened fire about -midnight, first upon the shipping in the river, and -afterward upon our camps.</p> - -<p>Two of the officers of our detached party, after the -freshness of the alarm had passed, were sitting in -their shelter tent with their feet to the foe, watching -as they would any pyrotechnic display, the flash of -the guns, and the curves described by the burning -fuses, when one of the guns was turned and -discharged, as it seemed, directly at our friends, -who, dodging at the same moment, struck their -heads together and fell, each under the impression -that the enemy’s shell had struck him.</p> - -<p>It was on this occasion that Colonel Sawtelle, -the officer in charge of the transportation—our -quartermaster said he was the only regular officer -within his experience who could do his duty and -be civil too—emerged from his tent at the sound -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">53</span> -of firing and stood upon the bank gazing silently -and sorrowfully upon his defenceless fleet, among -which the shells were exploding merrily. Soon his -silence broke into a shout to his superior, “Look -here Ingalls, if this thing isn’t stopped pretty quick, -the A. P. is a busted concern.”</p> - -<p>In the regimental camp a half mile away, the -shelling did no serious damage, but produced some -commotion. One of the officers complained that -every time that he got comfortably settled for sleep, -a shell would knock the pillow out from under his -head; in emulation of which story, a sailor in D -Company declared that he slept through the whole -affair, but in the morning counted twenty-three solid -shot piled up against his back, that hit but had not -waked him.</p> - -<p>Nearly two months had elapsed since we left -Massachusetts with the promise that the four Companies -required to complete our Regiment should be -speedily recruited and forwarded, but we heard -nothing of them. The home newspapers told of the -33d Regiment as being full, and of the 34th and -35th as in process of formation, but the 32d seemed -to have been forgotten. The Lieutenant Colonel -addressed a letter to the Governor upon the subject, -and forwarded a copy of his letter to the headquarters -of the Army of the Potomac. Within -twenty-four hours an order was published in which, -among others, was the name of our commanding -officer as detailed on recruiting service. Upon -application to Adjutant General Williams for an -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">54</span> -explanation of the detail, he learned that the order -meant that he was to go for those four companies, -and leaving Captain Stephenson, who for a long -time had been Acting Major, in command, the -Colonel went to Massachusetts on recruiting duty, -from which duty, to the best of his knowledge, he -has to this day never been relieved.</p> - -<p>He was barely gone before Company G reported, -commanded by Captain Charles Bowers—Charles -O. Shepard being First Lieutenant, and Edward T. -Bouvé, Second Lieutenant. When we got far -enough away from the depressing effect of that -infamous climate, and attained sufficient animation -to joke, we used to call this Company our second -battalion.</p> - -<p>There may occur no better place than this for a -brief dissertation concerning the high and deep -mysteries which hung about quartermastering.</p> - -<p>When we were at the Fort, the officers—who, by -regulation, were allowed a certain number of candles -per month—expressed a very unanimous preference -for kerosene lamps, which had then recently come -in vogue. Lamps, wicks, and oil were benignantly -supplied by the quartermaster at the Post, but at -the end of a month that officer presented for -approval and signature, requisitions and receipts for -many candles. We dreamed of a nice job at court-martial -on the Q. M., but soon learned that by a -fiction of the department, no light was recognized -other than that of candles, and receipts given for -candles covered lamps, wicks, chimneys, and oil. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">55</span></p> - -<p>Whether the Quartermasters’ Department has yet -discovered the use of petroleum, who can tell? -Our Quartermaster Pearson never joined the Regiment -after it left Massachusetts, but was detailed -principally in charge of matters at the recruiting -post and camp at Readville. Lieutenant Hoyt of B -Company was detailed and served for several years -as acting quartermaster. When he was detailed -the term of his detail was of course problematical, -and there was too much uncertainty, as he thought, -to justify the investment required for the purchase of -a horse; but he must ride. With that straightforwardness -which comes from innocence and ignorance -alike, a requisition was made upon the proper -officer for a saddle and horse for the use of the -quartermaster.</p> - -<p>If we had stolen the military chest of the army no -greater outcry could have been made; the application -was rejected with contumely. For the next day -or two Quartermaster Hoyt appeared to be absorbed -in the study of the rules and regulations, articles of -war, and circulars of his department. From this -course of reading he emerged with unclouded brow -and a new requisition. This time it was for an -ambulance, a horse, and a harness, to which every -battalion was entitled, and the articles required were -promptly delivered. Two days later he returned -the ambulance and harness as not wanted, and kept -the horse, which was always ridden by the quartermaster; -but was always known as the ambulance -horse. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">56</span></p> - -<p>It is a little in advance of our main story, but it -may as well be told here how Hoyt flanked the -Division Quartermaster. When the regimental property -was unloaded from the transport at Acquia -Creek, and only the afternoon before we marched, -it was found that one of our wagons was sick in a -hind wheel, and as it was almost sure to break down -if the wagon was loaded, our quartermaster endeavored -to turn it in to the Division Quartermaster, -and to obtain a sound wagon in its place. -There were plenty of new wagons in the Division -depot, but the officer was ugly and refused the -exchange; when it was persistently urged, the -superior grew wroth and vowed vows, and told our -quartermaster that he wouldn’t get any wagon out -of him, and that he might help himself if he could.</p> - -<p>Hoyt did help himself that night by taking, under -cover of the darkness, a sound wheel from a wagon -in the Division train, and putting our rotten one in -its place. There was a great row after we started -next morning about the breaking down of a wagon, -but our train was all right.</p> - -<p>Not many days after our arrival at Harrison’s -Landing, July 8th, President Lincoln visited and -reviewed the army. Having faith—in some respects -resembling a mustard seed—we believe that he -reviewed the 32d. What we know is, that after -waiting in position with the whole of our division, -from four o’clock in the afternoon until nine o’clock -in the evening, during the last three hours of which -time we mourned our delayed suppers, and possibly -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">57</span> -spoke evil of dignities, we saw in the uncertain -moonlight a party of horsemen ride along our -front, one of whom sat his horse like Andrew Jackson, -and wore a stove-pipe hat, and then we were -allowed to go to our camp and our rations.</p> - -<p>Where there are no newspapers, rumors are -always plenty, and the army abounded in rumors. -One day it was reported that our corps was to cross -the river and march on Petersburg; another day we -were told the army was about to move on Richmond, -and that we were to assault Fort Darling. General -Hooker made a reconnoissance in the direction of -Malvern, and it was immediately reported that he -had penetrated the defences of Richmond.</p> - -<p>For two weeks orders were received almost daily -with regard to the removal of the sick, and the disposal -of camp equipage and all extra baggage, and -rumors grew more and more wild and contradictory. -After the fearful ordeal of the malarial sickness, it is -not surprising that the intimation that the army was -about to enter upon a new campaign was hailed -with something akin to delight, even by those who -realized the dangers of battle, and the toil of more -active service. At last the orders came for the -movement, and it was not upon Petersburg, or Fort -Darling, or Richmond, but toward Fort Monroe.</p> - -<p>The orders found us ready and exceedingly willing -to leave a spot crowded with sad and bitter -experience, such as we can not even now recall without -a thrill almost of horror.</p> - -<p>The marches of the 32d Regiment might claim -quite as much place, if not more, in its history, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">58</span> -than the battles in which it took part, but they -would hardly be as attractive to the reader. At -all events the incidents of a march, exciting or not, -stand a much better chance of accurate narration -than those of a battle where haste may obscure the -memory, and passion confuse the description.</p> - -<p>In military campaigns as in civil life, patience and -endurance will win as against courage and <i>elan</i>. -The first are the qualities of highest value in marches, -the second are those conspicuous in battle. And it -may be safely said, that the qualities in soldiers -which make good marching, are rarer than those -which make good fighting. At least the troops -which the General will prize the most are those which -march the best: <i>i. e.</i>, those in whom either <i>esprit-du-corps</i> -or discipline is strong enough to prevent -straggling on toilsome marches. Those who marched -in good form, and came into bivouac at night with -full ranks were sure to be ready and available at the -moment of battle, whether they fought well or not; -and per contra, it was frequently observed that those -regiments that straggled most upon the march, were -conspicuous among the great army of “bummers” -at the rear in the time of battle, and, if engaged -with the enemy, were the first to break into rout and -dismay.</p> - -<p>Now as the 32d Massachusetts was on many occasions -rather conspicuous for good solid marching, -that fact should not be forgotten in its history.</p> - -<p>On the morning of a march the question usually -was, “Who has the advance to-day?” In a succession -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">59</span> -of days’ marching, the regiments took turns in -leading, according to an established rule. Breakfast -over, the bugle sounded, first at Division-headquarters, -then at brigade, and last at each regiment, -everybody fell into his place, and the bugle -sounded again “forward.” After many halts and -hitches, unless we happened to be at the head of the -column, we finally swung into the regular marching -gait. This was not fast, rarely exceeding three -miles an hour and oftener two miles or thereabouts, -including halts.</p> - -<p>The manner and method of the march,—with its -object there was seldom any disposition to meddle,—were -often severely criticised both by men and -officers. For instance, a day’s march of which the -objective point might be quite distant, say 25 or 30 -miles, would be begun before daylight, and then -conducted in great part as though there was no fixed -intention of going any where at all. This would -be a ground for grumbling. Marching out of a -comfortable camp at midnight, moving only a little -way, and then halting and lying round without orders -for hours, then moving again at day-break at a -snail’s pace, without having broken our fast, and -keeping on in this way until near noon, with no -orders for halt and breakfast; and thus on through -a whole livelong day of heat or dust, or it might be -of snow or rains or chilling winds, until late in the -afternoon; horses not fed or unsaddled, men with -blankets and equipments on, flinging themselves on -the ground at every wait as if in disgust. Here -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">60</span> -was more ground for grumbling. At length late in -the afternoon, when patience and strength were all -but exhausted, we would strike into a pace of three -miles or more an hour, which would be kept up -hour after hour without a moment’s rest. Then -would begin the straggling, men would throw away -their overcoats and blankets as too burdensome to -carry, although the loss might be bitterly regretted -at the next bivouac, and would make their fires, -rest and cook their coffee, under the very guns of -the enemy, in defiance of danger of death or capture, -and in spite of command or threats of court-martial. -The regimental column would be reduced -to the size of a company, and the men would be found -strewed along the roadside, sick or used up, many -not rejoining their companies until the bugles -sounded “forward” on the following day. This style -of marching was frequent in the earlier campaigns -of the Army of the Potomac, but was afterwards -much amended and improved upon. An excellent -rule adopted at a later period was to march the column -steadily for one hour, and then call a halt on -the bugle for ten or fifteen minutes. But the important -point of so ordering a march that the column -should move rapidly during the cool hours of the -morning and evening, halting for an hour or two at -noon, was seldom reached. It is presumable that in -many, perhaps in most cases, marches were made -loitering and toilsome, (as above described,) by -unavoidable and obvious causes. The insufficiency -of the roads, there being but one, or their bad -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">61</span> -condition, crowding the way with cattle sometimes -driven in the line of march; troops going to the rear -with prisoners, or passing to the front; skirmishing -with the enemy; difficult fords, or broken bridges, -or the laying of pontoons; all these, or any of them, -might cause delay. Or orders might require the -troops to be hurried forward, and the march, too hastily -begun, would be impeded by crowding or by the -necessity of cavalry, artillery, or ammunition being -sent forward.</p> - -<p>To sketch a march is an exceedingly difficult thing -because there is presented to the observer such a -multitude of features, none of which can be slighted -or left out; and these features are so varied, and present -themselves in such endless succession and constantly -changing interest, that the mind becomes -confused.</p> - -<p>On the occasion of our first march with the Army -of the Potomac, the men, in the worst possible condition -to support fatigue, weakened by sickness, -softened by six weeks of inaction, and enervated by -a debilitating climate, were marched out of camp at -about midnight, then halted and kept in expectation -of immediate departure for seven hours, then when -the mid-summer sun had attained nearly its full heat, -were put upon the route, and with no formal halt, -but with much hesitation and frequent delay, were -kept in the column fourteen weary hours.</p> - -<p>At eleven o’clock at night, on the 15th, the Captain -commanding reached the end of the day’s march -on the left bank of the Chickahominy, and encamped -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">62</span> -with less than thirty men, who alone had been able -to keep up with the column. All night long the -men came toiling in, and by the next daylight nearly -all had again joined the command.</p> - -<p>From this by easier marches, passing Williamsburg, -Yorktown, and Big Bethel, we arrived August -19th at Newport News. Each day’s march showed -better results—officers and men gaining in health and -strength as they increased their distance from Westover, -and when the first breeze came to them over -the salt water, the refreshing sensation was quaintly -declared to be like breathing ice cream.</p> - -<p>An amusing incident is recalled of our start from -Yorktown. We broke camp at 7 A. M., 18th -August. The headquarters officers’ mess of our -Regiment had been fortunate enough to confiscate a -“muell” on the previous day; his temper proved to -be not child-like nor yet bland. Upon this creature’s -back was loaded the kit, consisting of pots, pans, -kettles, plates, etc., etc., with whatever bread, -sugar, and other rations were in stock. The whole -affair was in charge of a darkey. The kit was -packed in two large sacks, to be hung across the -mule’s back, like panniers, and on top of these were -piled a few bulky articles, camp-chairs, and such -like nick-nacks. When fully loaded little was to be -seen of “the insect,” except his ears and his legs. -The darkey being discouraged in the legs had made -up his mind, as soon as it could be done without -being seen by the officers, to mount upon the top of -this pyramid of pots and pans, and to have a ride. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">63</span> -The mule, however, had other views. As the column -filed off down the hill, rough with stumps, and -ending in a morass, we looked back and saw Mr. -Mule arguing and expostulating, mule-fashion, -with Mr. Cuffy. At length, however, he apparently -yielded to the superior forensic skill of the latter, and -allowed himself to be mounted. Yet, as the sequel -showed, there was a mental reservation. After -wheeling round and round several times, as if to -look the ground over thoroughly and examine this -new question on all sides, the mule laid back his -long ears, stretched his neck, and bolted straight -down the hill. He stopped suddenly at the edge of -the swamp, planted his fore-feet, raised his hindquarters, -and sent the other contraband-of-war some -distance into the swamp, while the kettles, and coffee, -etc., of the headquarters mess strewed the ground -in all directions. Thereafter it was remarked that -that darkey invariably led that mule; also, that -several little utensils, such as cups and saucers, -were missing from the table of the mess. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">64</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="IV">IV.<br /> - -<i>CAMPAIGNING UNDER POPE.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">AT Newport News the Regiment immediately embarked -on the transport steamer <i>Belvidere</i> for -Acquia Creek, thence by railroad it was forwarded -to Stafford Court House, near Fredericksburg, and -on the 22d of August encamped in a pleasant grove -not far from Barnett’s Ford, on the upper Rappahannock, -in which agreeable and comparatively salubrious -locality we enjoyed a welcome rest of several -days, but we were very hungry. Our position was -at too great distance to receive regular supplies from -Burnside at Acquia, and General Pope did not consider -bases of supplies of any importance.</p> - -<p>On Saturday, the 23d, distant firing was heard in -the direction of the upper fords of the Rappahannock. -On Tuesday, the 26th, one wagon came up -for each regiment, and early on the 27th we moved -along the river, past roads leading to Kemper’s and -Kelly’s Fords, as far as Bealton, on the Orange and -Alexandria Railroad, then up the railroad track -towards Manassas. The sound of artillery was -often audible in advance.</p> - -<p>This march was made through a country parched -by the heat of a Southern mid-summer, the troops -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">65</span> -always enveloped in clouds of dust, the few wells -and watering-places constantly in possession of a -struggling crowd which barred out the weak who -needed water most, and it cannot be a matter for -surprise, but indeed it was a matter for grief, that -hundreds of the soldiers fell exhausted by the wayside, -to die in the fields, or in prison to suffer what -was worse than death.</p> - -<p>That evening we bivouacked near Warrenton -Junction, in a large wood, the men as they came in -throwing themselves upon the ground, hastening to -get their needed sleep. The officers (who could -not draw rations) felt the want of food even more -than the men. The field and staff mess could offer -only some wretched cakes of corn bread.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the 28th, before many of us -had fairly tasted sleep, we were aroused with orders -to prepare for the march. The night was yet -intensely dark and it was difficult to find the way out -from the wood. The staff officers who, guided by -our camp-fires, came to lead us out upon the road, -a distance of three hundred yards—were obliged to -acknowledge their inability to do so. At last a -negro servant of the Surgeon, escorted by soldiers -having lighted candles in the muzzles of their rifles, -guided the Regiment and the brigade out of the -wood to the roadway. Here we found the way -blocked by a battery, and resort was had to torches, -by whose light the men, in single file, picked their -way through the obstructions. Then there was a -long wait for Sykes’ division, and after his files had -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">66</span> -flitted by like shadows in the darkness, there came -a grey daylight through the fog, by which, with -great trouble we were able to move slowly on our -route, winding in and out among the wagons which -also had been impeded by thick darkness. At -length we moved pretty rapidly in the direction -of Manassas, following the line of the railway. At -Catlett’s a train of cars was seen which had been -fired and partially destroyed; near by we passed a -headquarters camp, said to have been General -Pope’s, which had evidently been raided by the -enemy. At intervals we could hear the sound -of fighting, at the north and northeast, sometimes -pretty near, and we were hurried forward as rapidly -as possible. At Kettle Run we saw evidences of the -battle which Hooker had fought there with Ewell’s -corps, and saw many prisoners and wounded men. -Here the fighting seemed to be northwest from us; -as we crossed Broad Run, about sundown, it was -nearly due north.</p> - -<p>A day of hot sun and stifling dust was this 28th -day of August; on every side were evidences that -there had been heavy fighting. The railroad track -had been torn up and its bridges destroyed, clearly -by the rebels. The trains of wagons, the batteries, -the troops of all arms that we passed or that passed -us this day, were wonderful for number.</p> - -<p>We encamped upon a large plain, a half mile -beyond the Run, while the sound of artillery and -musketry on our left was very distinctly heard.</p> - -<p>At dawn next morning, Friday, August 29th, we -marched toward Manassas Junction. Rapid and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">67</span> -fierce fighting on our left, in the direction of Bull -Run. At the Junction, what had been a long train -of luggage cars, loaded with army equipments, -clothing, and supplies, was found a heap of smouldering -ruins, and the track and bridges had been -destroyed and were yet burning. Looking to the -north the smoke of battle could be plainly discerned, -marked by white puffs of bursting shells, and the -sound of artillery was faintly heard; a long line of -dust extended from Thoroughfare Gap into and -apparently beyond the field of battle.</p> - -<p>After a brief halt on the heights of Manassas, we -countermarched and took the road to Gainesville, -which here is nearly parallel to the Manassas Gap -Railroad; we passed McDowell’s corps, lying along -the roadside a mile or so from the Junction. They -cheered and told us to “go in” and said that they -had enough of it, etc. All this time we had had no -chance to eat or drink, and nobody seemed to -understand our movements. The wildest rumors -were afloat; now that Pope was cut off and captured—now -that Jackson was surrounded, pressed by -Siegel, and trying to escape by Aldie—now that -there was a large force in our rear, and that we were -cut off from Washington. Then, and this seemed -true, that Lee or Longstreet was bringing up reinforcements -to Jackson by Thoroughfare Gap, and -that Siegel, or McDowell, or Banks, or somebody -unknown, was trying to prevent this movement.</p> - -<p>After passing McDowell’s men we marched rapidly, -and when five and a half or six miles out from -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">68</span> -Manassas Junction, came to a bold elevation of -cleared land, extending from the road to the railway, -and on a line nearly parallel could see a long -line of dust marking the line upon which the -enemy was moving; and when there were openings -in the wood, which for the most part masked the -moving column, we could with a good glass see -their artillery, infantry, and trains.</p> - -<p>The cloud of dust which revealed the march of -the enemy along our front was lost on the right, -where it passed over a low wooded ridge, beyond -which was seen the battle smoke. The guns could -be heard only faintly by us in our high position, and -must have been inaudible in the woods of the valley -below.</p> - -<p>Upon this hill we were deployed, and guns were -brought up and placed in position. Our brigade -(Griffin’s) started out on the right flank, moved over -the railroad track and for some distance into the -woods, with skirmishers thrown out in the front and -on the flank, but finding no practicable way through -the woods returned and drew up on the hill. Two -or three regiments were deployed to the front as -skirmishers and sent down the hill and across the -valley, as if to feel of the enemy, whose column -continued to pour down from Thoroughfare, turning -to the northeast at a point about two miles away—at -or near Gainesville.</p> - -<p>Generals Porter and McDowell, with other generals -and their staff, stood in a group; the infantry -was closed in mass and the batteries ready for -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">69</span> -action when, from a corn-field in the flank of the -marching column in the valley, there suddenly -curled a wreath of smoke, and then another and -another. A round shot buried itself in the face of -the hill, throwing up a cloud of dust; then one -after the other two shells burst close to the general -officers, killing two men of our brigade. Our own -batteries promptly replied and silenced the guns in -front, but they opened again further to the right -with such a rake upon our infantry as to make it -prudent to withdraw them to the cover of the ground. -Evidently our General intended an attack, and everything -was ready; but the remonstrances of Morell -and Marshall prevailed upon Porter to countermand -the order, and we finally bivouacked upon the hill.</p> - -<p>On the 30th, before day-break, we took the road -with orders to proceed to Centreville. Our brigade -was to cover the rear in this movement, and of -course was preceded in the march by the supply -train of the corps. Before breakfast we had crossed -Bull Run at Blackburn’s Ford. It seems that orders -had been sent to change the destination of our corps, -but the officer charged with their delivery having -followed back the column until he reached the trains, -gave orders to the quartermaster in charge of them -to continue on to Centreville, and either did not -know or entirely forgot that our Brigade was beyond -the wagons; whence it happened that while the rest -of our corps was in battle on the Gainesville road, -we were waiting at Centreville, wondering where -they were, hearing the roar of battle as it drew -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">70</span> -nearer and nearer to our hillside, and constantly -expecting orders.</p> - -<p>At about four o’clock we started for the field of -battle. Almost immediately we came upon swarms -of stragglers, who had left their ranks, and who -were full of stories of regiments all cut up, as -well as of their individual prowess. Then came -crowds of wounded men, ambulances, wagons, empty -caissons, until at last the road was fairly blocked -with officers and men in no order, horses, wagons, -and batteries. Men were running, panting, cursing, -and some worn out and exhausted had thrown -themselves upon the ground by the roadside utterly -indifferent to their fate; and now we knew that this -was the route of an exhausted army, and that our -duty was to guard their rear.</p> - -<p>Forcing our way through all, just as we came to -the well-ordered but retreating lines, night came on; -and although there were yet sounds of desultory -firing, and occasional shot or shells plunging and -exploding about us, the fight was over, and in the -gloom of night we marched slowly back with the -throng of troops to the heights of Centreville.</p> - -<p>Next morning, Sunday, August 31st, 1862, it was -raining hard. The scene of confusion about us -beggars description, and everybody was hungry, -wet, and dispirited. Before noon, however, order -began to come out of chaos. Men found their colors, -and regiments and brigades their appointed stations, -and our Brigade moved out upon the Gainesville -Pike to receive the first onset of the enemy. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">71</span> -Our position was on the right of the turnpike, and -the line extended north and east toward Fairfax, -with a strong picket two or three hundred yards in -front, and here we passed the afternoon in quiet.</p> - -<p>All day Monday, September 1st, trains of ambulances, -under flags of truce, were going out to the -field of battle and returning loaded with wounded men. -The weather continued cold and rainy, with a northeast -wind. Toward evening the sound of fighting -was heard in the direction of Chantilly. The men -were wet to the skin, rations exhausted, no fires -allowed. Surgeons coming in from the battle-field -reported the enemy in great force a very short distance -out on the turnpike, and on the old Warrenton -Road, waiting the order to attack. The night was -passed in misery; the hazard of our position forbade -sleep, and comfort was impossible. The army had -moved from Centreville, in our rear, and at 3 A. M. -we drew in our pickets and moved quietly away.</p> - -<p>Looking back as we left Centreville, we saw the -enemy coming into the town in great numbers, but -they made no attack. At Fairfax Court House we -met large bodies of troops; thence, taking a northeast -course, we passed Vienna, and toward evening -struck the Leesburg Turnpike. Beyond Levinsville -we were met by General McClellan, who was enthusiastically -greeted by the troops, and at 11 P. M. -we bivouacked at Langley’s, after a march of twenty-eight -miles.</p> - -<p>Wednesday, September 3d, we encamped on -Miners Hill, near Falls Church, which was the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">72</span> -locality of Porter’s command previous to the Peninsula -campaign.</p> - -<p>Our active campaign with the army of Virginia -comprised only ten days as almanacs count time, -but these were days so full of excitement and of -incident that memory recalls a whirl of occurrences -and events, succeeding so rapidly one to another -that it is with difficulty one can separate them. -There are pictures, but they are changing with the -rapidity of those of the kaleidoscope.</p> - -<p>One scene constantly recurring, not only on this, -but on many another march, presents to us again the -array of sick or exhausted men, who strewed the -route of the hurried columns—their pinched and -worn faces—their eyes half closed, gazing into -space—their bodies crouched or cramped with pain, -supported against trees or fences, or lying prone -upon the ground; the men almost always clinging to -their rifles. “If one had told me yesterday,” said -an officer on his first march with the army, “that -I could pass one man so stricken, and not stop -to aid or console him, I should have resented the -charge as a slander, and already I have passed -hundreds.” Many, many such, necessarily abandoned -to their fate, crept into the woods and died. -Under repeated orders, all men absent and not -accounted for, should have been reported as deserters, -but Captains were more merciful than the -orders, and few were found to brand as ignominious -the names of men who deserved rather to be canonized -as martyrs. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">73</span></p> - -<p>Another memory is of a gallant Captain of -artillery, whose battery marched just in advance -of our Regiment—of an aide galloping back and -wheeling to the Captain’s side to communicate an -order—the quick question, “where?” a short answer, -a note of a bugle, and the Captain dashes off to our -left, followed by his battery—the thunderous rumble -of caissons and gun-carriages dying away as they -pass out of our sight over a swell of land. It is -strange that as this scene is recalled where a -fellow-soldier rushed to immediate death, a prominent -feature of the picture is the vivid color of the -mass of blue flowers which clothed the entire field -through which his battery dashed away from our -column.</p> - -<p>Another turn of the mnemonic glass, and we see -the country about Manassas trodden into a vast -highway. Just there Stuart had captured a train -laden with quartermaster’s stores, and the ground -all about was strewn with broken cases and what -had been their contents—new uniforms, underclothing, -hats and shoes, from which men helped themselves -at will, leaving the old where they found the -new. Near by, on the railroad track, waited a -long train loaded with sick and wounded—the cars -packed full, and many lying on the top unsheltered -in the sun.</p> - -<p>Yet again, and we are in sight of Thoroughfare, -and see the long lines of dust revealing the march -of Lee’s army down towards us from the Gap, and -we remember the applause we gave when the first -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">74</span> -shell from Hazlitt’s parrot guns exploded exactly in -a line of rebel infantry (scattering them as is rarely -done except in cheap engravings), and how little -we appreciated the like accuracy of aim by which -an enemy’s shot killed two men in one of our own -regiments.</p> - -<p>And again there comes a mental photograph, date -and locality indistinct, which represents nineteen -officers gathered about a sumptuous repast, comprising -three loaves of old bread, a fragment of -cheese and a half canteen of water, almost as stale -as the bread, and the careful watch of Field upon -Staff and Staff upon Line, to see that only one -swallow of water is taken by each in his turn.</p> - -<p>And finally, we stand blocking the way to gaze -upon a wrecked omnibus, inscribed—“Georgetown -and Navy Yard”—one of many vehicles impressed -in Washington and sent out as ambulances, and -which, after reviving in us memories of civilization, -was to become a trophy in the hands of the enemy. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">75</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="V">V.<br /> - -<i>OUR THIRD BATTALION.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">WHEN the 32d Regiment left Massachusetts in -May, the war fever was raging, and it was -supposed that it would be the work but of a few -days to recruit the four companies required to complete -the Regiment, and it was clearly understood -that the first recruits were to be assigned to us. But -being out of sight we were indeed out of mind, and -the pressure of officers interested in constructing -new regiments constantly delayed our claims to -consideration.</p> - -<p>In two months over three thousand volunteers had -been accepted, of whom only one hundred (our -Company G) had been assigned to us. The rendezvous -for the Eastern part of the State was the -camp at Lynnfield, which was placed under the -command of Colonel Maggi, of the 33d. His own -regiment occupied the chief part of the camp, and -the only entrance to it was through his regimental -guard. Both he and his Lieutenant Colonel, a -young and handsome officer named Underwood, -had a quick eye for a promising recruit, and as the -constantly arriving volunteers passed within the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">76</span> -lines, the best were drafted into the 33d, and the -remainder were passed into the command of Major -Wilde, whose camp was just beyond.</p> - -<p>Dr. Edward A. Wilde, afterward Colonel of the -35th Massachusetts, and yet later Brigadier General -of Volunteers, was commissioned, July 24th, 1862, -to fill the then vacant majority in the 32d, and -had been temporarily placed in charge of the -unattached volunteers at Lynnfield, three hundred of -whom had been roughly fashioned into companies, -and were to be assigned to us.</p> - -<p>Upon Colonel Parker’s return to Massachusetts, -Governor Andrew gave to our matters his willing -attention. Upon inspection of the three companies, -the Colonel thought that he could do better than to -take Colonel Maggi’s rejected recruits, and they -were accordingly transferred to the 35th.</p> - -<p>At the urgent request of the authorities of Newton, -supported by the Honorable J. Wiley Edmands, -a company raised entirely in that town was regimented -in the 32d. A company from Charlestown -was made the basis of Company I, and taking a -lesson from Colonel Maggi, whose regiment happily -was now filled, a third company was organized at -the camp by selecting from the town quotas the -choicest material, and passing over the remainder -to the 35th. We were able to accomplish this by -the active aid of our Major Wilde. If the Major -had known that he was to be the first Colonel of the -35th, that regiment might perhaps have been benefited, -but the 32d undoubtedly owed to his want of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">77</span> -prophetic vision the fact that its 3d Battalion was -composed of men in every respect equal to those of -its First.</p> - -<p>On the 2d of August the companies were detached -from Major Wilde’s recruits and ordered to report to -Colonel Parker, who at once moved them some eight -hundred yards away, where they encamped in a -charming spot, between the pond and the highway, -until they should be provided with clothing, arms, -and equipments.</p> - -<p>The beauty and convenience of that camp has -impressed its memory upon every soldier of the -Battalion; but the proprietor of the land did not -seem to be equally pleased with an arrangement to -which very possibly his previous consent was not -obtained; but if he expected to drive us away by -removing the rope and bucket from the well near -by, he was sadly disappointed. He presented to -the Colonel a huge bill for the use of the premises, -and for damages caused by the cutting down of a -sapling elm, and the removal of a rod or two of -stone wall. If he never collected it he should have -been comforted by the fact that we never charged -him for the construction of two good wells on the -ground, and the stones of his fence may yet be -found in the walls of those wells.</p> - -<p>On the 6th Colonel Parker left to rejoin the regiment, -leaving the Battalion to follow under Major -Wilde, but the Major was promoted to the 35th, and -it was not until the 20th that the three companies, -commanded by the senior Captain (Moulton), left -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">78</span> -Lynnfield by railroad to Somerville, thence marching -to Charlestown, where a generous entertainment had -been provided for them by the citizens. That evening -they left by the Providence Railroad—the entire -route through the cities of Charlestown and Boston -being one ovation. At Stonington they took the -steamer, landing the next morning at Jersey City, -and taking a train for Philadelphia. Through that -good city they marched to the Cooper Refreshment -Rooms, and being well fed and otherwise refreshed, -moved thence to the Baltimore Station. It was well -into the next day before they arrived in that town of -doubtful loyalty, and it was morning on the 22d -when they landed in Washington, and took up -quarters at the railroad barracks.</p> - -<p>While the commanding officer was endeavoring -to find somebody to give him orders, several hours -of liberty were allowed to the men, few of whom -had ever seen Washington. It was not the quiet -place that it had been when the right wing arrived -there months before, but was again astir with signs -of active war. The movement to effect a junction -between the armies of Generals McClellan and -Pope was in progress, and long trains of wagons -were moving between Alexandria and the various -depots of supplies, and ambulances loaded with sick -and wounded streamed to and from the hospitals, -while on the walks, men in uniforms, some brand -new and some ragged and dirty, jostled each other; -new recruits from the North—garrison men from -the forts—stragglers and convalescents from the -armies in the field. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">79</span></p> - -<p>If at the word hospital there is presented to the -mind’s eye of the reader a spacious structure in stone -or brick, covered with a dome and expanding into -wings, all embosomed in a park-like enclosure, with -verdant lawns shaded by trees and mottled with -shrubbery, that reader did not go to muster in Virginia -in ‘62. Provision thought to be ample had -been made in Washington, by the construction in -several unoccupied squares, of rows of detached -wooden sheds, each of which was the ward of a -hospital. Rough and unattractive as these appeared -set down among the dusty streets, upon a plot of -land from which every green thing was trodden out, -their interiors were in fact models of neatness, -and in some sort, of comfort. But the battles of the -Peninsula had soon filled these, and when there -were added to them the sick from McClellan’s army -and the invalids from Pope’s, every available building -was taken, and finally when within ten days, -eight thousand patients were added from the James -River, vacant house-lots were occupied, and for -want of tents, awnings of sails or boards were laid -over rough frames, and the passer-by could see the -patients stretched upon the straw. The happy result -of this, and other enforced experiments, was to prove -that even these wretched makeshifts were better than -close-walled houses, for hospital purposes.</p> - -<p>On the 23d the Battalion marched over Long -Bridge to the town of Alexandria—preferring at -night the outside of the building designated to shelter -them. The next day tents and wagons were -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">80</span> -obtained, and on the 25th their first camp was made -on the hillside, near the Seminary.</p> - -<p>Everything in that neighborhood was in confusion. -During the week that the command remained -encamped, Franklin’s and Sumner’s corps arrived at -Alexandria, and not only was the town crowded -with soldiers, but the woods were full of them, and -all the energies of the authorities were devoted to -endeavors to supply them, and push them out to the -rescue of General Pope’s army.</p> - -<p>Considering that nobody, not even the General-in-chief, -knew where Pope’s army was, it is not surprising -that all the efforts made by officers to find -our Regiment were fruitless; indeed it mattered -little that they were, for the wagons were taken -away for the pressing service of more experienced -troops, who were unable to move for want of transportation.</p> - -<p>At last, on the 3d of September, the locality of -Porter’s Corps was ascertained, and the Battalion -joined the rest of the Regiment. There was a -striking contrast in the appearance of the old and -new companies. The three new companies outnumbered -all the other seven. The veterans looked -with wonder upon the fresh northern faces and the -bright new uniforms, while the recruits scanned -with at least equal surprise the mud-stained, worn, -and weary men who were to be their comrades. -So long were the new platoons, that the detachment -was christened “Moulton’s Brigade,” but the -superiority of numbers was not long with them, and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">81</span> -two weeks of campaigning amalgamated the command.</p> - -<p>The three companies comprising our “3d Battalion” -were—</p> - -<p>Company H, recruited at the Lynnfield Camp, -commanded by Captain Henry W. Moulton; its -Lieutenants were John H. Whidden and Joseph -W. Wheelwright.</p> - -<p>Company I, recruited in Charlestown, Captain -Hannibal D. Norton; Lieutenants, Chas. H. Hurd -and Lucius H. Warren, since Brevet Brigadier-General.</p> - -<p>Company K, recruited in Newton, Captain J. -Cushing Edmands, afterwards Colonel and Brevet -Brigadier-General; Lieutenants, Ambrose Bancroft -and John F. Boyd.</p> - -<p>At Upton’s Hill the complete organization of the -Regiment was published in the orders. The Lieutenant -Colonel was promoted to be Colonel, Captain -Prescott to be Lieutenant Colonel, and Captain -Stephenson to be Major. The medical staff consisted -of Z. Boylston Adams, Surgeon, with the -rank of Major; William Lyman Faxon and W. H. -Bigelow, Assistant Surgeons, ranking as First Lieutenants; -W. T. M. Odiorne, Hospital Steward. -The non-commissioned staff consisted of James P. -Wade, Sergeant Major; James A. White, Quartermaster -Sergeant; Charles E. Madden, Commissary -Sergeant; and Freeman Field, Principal Musician.</p> - -<p>Dr. Bigelow, Steward Odiorne, and Sergeant -Madden, were new appointments. All the rest had -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">82</span> -been with the Regiment through all its experience -in the field.</p> - -<p>No chaplain was ever commissioned in the 32d, -no application having ever been made on the part -of the line officers, to whom belonged the initiative, -and none being desired, so far as was known by -any officer or man.</p> - -<p>In an army composed of men of many different -religious beliefs, as was the case in ours, the chaplains -should constitute a staff corps, its members -proportioned as to faith, in some degree to the -requirements of the army, so that from the headquarters -of an army or corps details might be made -of the proper men for any required duty. Attached -to regimental headquarters, they were very generally -utterly inefficient for good professionally. It -was the rule with us that, when any of the sick -were near death, the fact should be reported to the -commanding officer, who was often the first to communicate -the tidings, and who invariably enquired -of the dying man if he desired the service of a -chaplain. When this was desired, an orderly was -sent with the compliments of the Colonel, to some -chaplain near by, to ask his attendance. With only -rare exceptions such services were cheerfully and -promptly rendered.</p> - -<p>The burial service was usually read by the commanding -officer over the bodies of our dead; but in -one case, where the man had been a Roman Catholic, -it was thought better to ask the attendance of -a chaplain of that faith. It happened that the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">83</span> -orderly could not readily find one, and could find -only one, and returned with the unusual reply that -the chaplain could not come.</p> - -<p>Upon further inquiry it appeared that the orderly -had presented the message, with the compliments of -the Colonel, to the chaplain, who was reposing after -dinner. “Was he a good Catholic?” enquired the -priest. The orderly assured him that he was. “My -compliments to the Colonel, then, and tell him he -can bury him. It is all right.” With which reply -the messenger was compelled to return. Failing -the orderly’s assurance of the man’s good and regular -standing, of course the chaplain would have -escaped the duty too.</p> - -<p>In November, 1862, our camp hospital offered -merely a canvas tent for shelter, and some straw -spread upon the frosty ground for bedding. One -of the patients, in view of approaching death, expressed -to the Adjutant his wish to be baptized, -and of course a messenger was sent forth to seek a -chaplain, with the customary compliments, and to -ask his attendance on a dying man.</p> - -<p>A chaplain promptly appeared at our headquarters, -was escorted to the hospital tent and left at the side -of the sick man. Very soon after, the Colonel, -meeting the reverend officer pacing thoughtfully in -the open air, stopped and enquired as to the patient’s -condition. Evidently considerably embarrassed, the -chaplain said “you did not tell me that the man -wanted baptism.” “Very true,” was the reply, “but -why is that any difficulty?” “Because,” rejoined the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">84</span> -clergyman, hesitatingly, “I am of the Baptist persuasion, -and this is no case for immersion.”</p> - -<p>It was very awkward, but the Colonel, who had -thought only of a chaplain as the proper officer for -a present duty, apologized for his want of thought, -thanked the gentleman, and said that he would try -again, or if it became necessary, would himself administer -the holy rite. The chaplain, however, requested -a few minutes for reflection, at the end of -which he decided to officiate himself and did so, first -taking the precaution to enquire of the soldier -whether he preferred immersion or sprinkling, the -latter of which very naturally was elected. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">85</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="VI">VI.<br /> - -<i>THE ANTIETAM CAMPAIGN.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">UNTIL September 12th, our Division remained at -Upton’s Hill, while the rest of the Army of the -Potomac drew off into Maryland in observation of -General Lee, concerning whose movements no definite -information could for a time be obtained.</p> - -<p>It was a favorite theory among the authorities in -Washington that General Lee would lead McClellan -off into Western Maryland, and then slip round into -his rear and capture the aforesaid authorities. Of -course 80,000 men do not slip about such a country -very easily, and of course General Lee would never -have dared to place his army between the forts of -Washington and the Army of the Potomac; but -even such absurd fears required consideration, and -in addition to the artillery garrisons in the forts and -the new levies inside the defences, Morell’s division -was left for a time to watch the approaches to the -Chain Bridge, which was the weakest point in the -defences of the city.</p> - -<p>During these days the various corps of the army -whose organization a week before had been almost -destroyed, were marching through the town in -columns of platoons, with their drums beating and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">86</span> -colors flying, their array as fine as it would have -been on parade before they had ever seen the -enemy, and inspiring all who saw them to a happy -augury of the result of the first Maryland campaign.</p> - -<p>On the 11th, our Division received orders to join -the army in the field with all possible speed, and on -the 12th we folded our tents, and took the route in the -track of our comrades. As usual the start was -delayed until the sun was well up in the sky, and -before we were out of the District of Columbia the -heat had become oppressive, and the men, especially -those of the new companies, were suffering -greatly. Our route was from Upton’s Hill past Fort -Corcoran, through Georgetown and Washington, and -out by 7th street.</p> - -<p>Early in the day came a circular order to be read -at the head of each company denouncing the penalty -of death, without trial, as the punishment for straggling, -the utter absurdity of which was shown by -the fact that before nightfall one-third of the men -had fallen out of their ranks, the order to the contrary -notwithstanding. The old soldiers, happily, -(or unhappily) had learned that the bark of the -orders was worse than their bite, but the new recruits -had the impression, as yet, that orders meant -what they said, and believed that the officers would -shoot down all those who faltered; consequently, -what between soldierly ambition and personal fear, -the new men would struggle on until they could do -so no longer. The day was burning hot, and the -last hour before noon was chosen to give the command -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">87</span> -one pull of three miles without rest; and -when at last the bugle sounded “halt,” not less than -fifty of our men fell exhausted, fainting or sunstruck, -several of them raving with insane imaginings.</p> - -<p>Although we tarried at this place for an hour or -more, the Colonel assuming the responsibility to fall -out with his entire command, it was found necessary -at last to leave some twenty men who needed rest -and care, the greater part of whom were finally discharged -from hospitals disabled for service. Here, -too, in order to lighten the march, a quantity of -knapsacks and blankets were left stored in a barn, -but before our teams could return for them the whole -had been gobbled by stragglers.</p> - -<p>It was after dark when at last we halted for the -night, and the Adjutant’s returns showed that one of -the new companies then numbered three officers and -seven men, and another no officers and one man<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">1</a> -present for duty. We bivouacked in columns of -companies, and that one man executed under his -own command the company right wheel, dressed his -ranks, stacked his arm (by plunging the bayonet into -the ground), called the roll, broke ranks, supped, -and slept the sleep of the just.</p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">1</a> -Private Isaac W. Thurlow, of Methuen, afterward promoted -to be Lieutenant C. T.</p></div> - -<p>The next two days’ march brought us, via Middlebrook, -Clarksville, and Hyattstown to Frederick; -the weather, though clear, was not so hot as on the -12th, the men were in better condition and, on the -whole, we gained in numbers. Many will remember -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">88</span> -our bivouac that Sunday evening as the place -where they indulged in a welcome bath in the clear -waters of the Monocacy river. All day on the 14th -(Sunday), we heard heavy firing, and on the 15th -the sound of heavy guns at Harper’s Ferry continued -to assure us that our flag still was there, but -its sudden cessation at last told as plainly of the -surrender.</p> - -<p>Our march of the 15th and 16th, although rapid, -was not exhausting; the air was more autumnal, -and we were cheered by the evidence of the fact -that we were the pursuers. Large numbers of rebel -prisoners passed us going to our rear. As we -marched through Frederick we were greeted with -hearty cheers from civilians and the waving kerchiefs -of ladies, and children distributed ripe fruits, -which were most welcome to the bilious soldiers. On -the South Mountain battle-field a detail was burying -the dead, and we saw many bodies in grey uniforms -awaiting burial. We had previously met and saluted -the dead General Reno, borne to the rear in an -ambulance draped with the national colors.</p> - -<p>As we passed over one of the mountain ridges, -there broke upon our sight a view such as New -England cannot offer. A valley stretching far away -on either hand, everywhere divided into large -fields of rich farming lands, among which the homes -of well-to-do farmers stood, with groups of barns -and granges and hay ricks gathered about them, -the whole testifying to the comfort and wealth of the -inhabitants. At every house there were words of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">89</span> -welcome and cheer. The entire population evidently -was in sympathy with our cause, and their -recent sight of the retreating army of the enemy -had evidently strengthened their enthusiasm for his -pursuers.</p> - -<p>It was almost sundown on the 16th when we came -up with the main body of our army between Keedysville -and Antietam Creek. The air was full of -smoke from the camp-fires, and the hillsides alive -with the men, who were making ready for their -supper and their sleep. Our Division was guided -into the field assigned to us, and our men were soon -deep in similar preparations.</p> - -<p>We knew that the hostile armies were now face -to face, and that a great battle was imminent. -Curiosity led many to gather on the hilltops and to -look over what was to be the battlefield, to the crests -of the low hills on the opposite bank of the stream, -where we could see the spires of the little town of -Sharpsburg sharply defined against the warm sky, -and the smoke from the rebel camp-fires glowing in -the light of the setting sun. A few well-directed -shells from the enemy’s batteries however, dulled -our curiosity in that direction, and we turned to our -camps to see how an army looks upon the eve of a -pitched battle.</p> - -<p>The eastward slopes of the hills on the left branch -of the Antietam were occupied by the infantry -of the army of McClellan, extending some four -miles from right to left. Near the tops of these hills -a few batteries of artillery were ready for use at a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">90</span> -moment’s notice, but more of them were below us, -their horses feeding at the picket ropes, the men -busy about their supper.</p> - -<p>Farther away to the rear the ammunition wagons -were parked, those of each division by themselves, -and yet farther back the supply trains of the different -corps, and the reserve divisions of artillery and -cavalry.</p> - -<p>There was every show of complete readiness for -the morrow, in the array of the troops and the provision -for the fight—but everything was busy and -cheery. As night fell the smoke became less dense, -and the bright light of a thousand glowing fires -enlivened the scene. There was no sign of haste -or of anxiety; occasionally a mule sounded his -trumpet as a signal for more feed, and often the -sound of horses’ feet was heard as some officer or -orderly galloped leisurely by; there was some singing -and much laughter heard from the various -camps, and at last the stirring but confused sound of -the tattoo along the whole line from the bugles of -the distant cavalry and the neighboring artillery, and -the drums and fifes of the infantry of the line.</p> - -<p>Then came gentle sleep, nowhere more grateful -and welcome than in the bivouac of the soldier on -the night before the battle.</p> - -<p>From dawn to dark no fairer sky was ever seen -than that beneath which, on the 17th day of -September, 1862, was fought the battle of the -Antietam. It may be doubted whether there was in -the history of our civil war, any instance of a battle -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">91</span> -for which the preparation was on both sides so complete, -of which the field was more free and open to -the movements of the troops and the oversight of -the commanders, or in which the result depended so -directly upon the ability of the generals and the -conduct of the troops, and so little upon purely -accidental occurrences.</p> - -<p>The Confederate army occupied the crest of the -rising ground which lies immediately west of the -Antietam, and between it and the Potomac. That -portion of this crest in which lay the left and the -centre of their army, was for the most part wooded -and broken by outcropping ledges, and through it -ran roads whose fences and cuts afforded frequent -vantage ground for a defensive force. Their right -was in an open country, but one intersected by -stone walls, and presenting on the side toward the -Union lines very abrupt declivities.</p> - -<p>The left of our army (directly opposite the rebel -right), were posted on low hills, whose western -sides were also steep and rough. Between the two -positions the gap was just sufficient for the passage -of the little river and for a narrow country road on -either bank, and here the stream was spanned by a -stone bridge of three arches, since known as Burnside’s -bridge.</p> - -<p>Nearly a mile above, over a similar bridge, the -Sharpsburg turnpike crossed the Antietam, cutting -by a direct line the centres of both armies. Lying -across this road, east of the river, on commanding -ground, the corps of Gen. Porter held the centre of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">92</span> -the loyal army, connecting with Burnside on the -left and with Sumner on the right. On the right of -the Union army was Hooker’s corps, on the west -bank of the stream, and almost in contact with the -rebel left, occupying the ground which they had -won from the enemy at nightfall of the day before; -both parties in the same wood sleeping on their arms -in line of battle.</p> - -<p>Taken together, the positions of the two armies -described a figure not unlike the letter D, of which -the curved portion may represent the Union lines, -and the straight part (which was in fact also curved), -those of the Confederates. Except at our left (the -bottom of the D), our army held both banks of the -Antietam, and at both extremes the two armies -almost touched.</p> - -<p>Standing among the guns of Porter’s batteries, -about the centre of the Union lines, one seemed to -look down upon the field, the whole of which, except -the immediate vicinity of Burnside’s bridge, -was open to the view. Directly in our front the -Antietam washed the base of the hill, on the rounded -summit of which the guns were placed, but from the -farther bank the land rose gently rolling to the lines -of the army of our enemy. Between us and the -rebel centre were cleared fields, many of them -bearing crops of nearly ripened corn, bounded to -the left by steep hill-sides closing in to the river, but -on the right running up to a glade bordered by -woodlands. In these woods, and in and over that -glade, occurred the severest struggles and the greatest -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">93</span> -slaughter of this hard-fought battle. Near -Porter’s lines, on yet higher land, the headquarters -of our army were established for the day.</p> - -<p>Of the curving line of the union army, the left -was the corps of General Burnside, the centre the -corps of General Porter, and the right the corps of -General Hooker; but in the rear of Hooker was the -corps of General Mansfield, and behind it that of -General Sumner, while the force of General Franklin, -just up from Pleasant Valley, acted as the -reserve.</p> - -<p>McClellan’s plan of the battle was to make the -principal attack from his right, but as soon as that -was well engaged, to throw Burnside from his left -against the right of Lee, not absolutely as a real -attack, but by menacing the road to the ford which -was Lee’s only line of retreat, to occupy and divert -certain portions of the Confederate army, and thus -reduce its power of resistance to the real attack -upon the other flank.</p> - -<p>By reason of the curvation of the line, our batteries -in its centre could reach effectively the whole -extent of the front of the enemy from left to right; -and throughout the day, as opportunity offered, the -guns did good execution, and more especially upon -our right where we could annoy the rebel infantry -while in the cover of the woods, and enfilade them -whenever they appeared in the open glade.</p> - -<p>At break of day the rattling volleys of musketry -on the right told that Hooker was opening the great -struggle. Soon occasional deep thuds of his cannon -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">94</span> -were also heard, then nearer and more constant came -the sounds approaching from both wings, until our -own batteries in the centre joined in the din. Along -the whole line gun for gun came back—as if echoed -from the other ridge—the voice of the invading army -from lips of bronze and iron, and its exploding messengers -repeated in our ears the arguments of war, -until hundreds of heavy guns were united in one -deep quivering roar. And although there was rising -and falling in the sound, yet until nightfall the -sound of battle never ceased.</p> - -<p>Just across the creek the skirmishers of our corps -showed like dotted lines upon the fields; now and -then we could see the smoke puff from their rifles, -although the sound was lost in that of the general -conflict. On the left, until afternoon, no movements -were visible, but across that open glade, far away on -the right, the tide of battle ebbed and flowed.</p> - -<p>First from the edge of the woods on our side, -appeared a ragged line of men fleeing for their -lives, and following them the solid front of Hooker’s -corps, firing as it followed.</p> - -<p>The fugitives were three brigades of Jackson’s -men, and the dark spots before the advancing line -were the first fruits of that harvest of slaughter, whose -winrows before nightfall traversed the whole of that -fatal glade.</p> - -<p>Hooker’s men had nearly crossed the open ground -when the whole of Jackson’s corps burst from the -western wood and met them in the open field; -Hooker against Jackson—that was the tug of war. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">95</span> -No sign of yielding could be marked on either side. -Both lines became involved in the smoke of their -rifles, but whenever the breeze wafted the smoke -away, the reduced number of the combatants could -be noted, and the fringe of wounded men and their -too numerous helpers, which always hangs from the -rear in the battle line, was constantly visible between -each body and its nearest sheltering wood.</p> - -<p>There was no moment when this contest ended; -no line was seen pursuing or pursued, but little by -little both melted away; and when all were gone, -out from the edge of the woods on either side -belched the fire and smoke of the batteries.</p> - -<p>Now seven o’clock by Sharpsburg time. The -scattered men of the broken divisions of each army -sought the friendly shelter of the lines which were -advancing to relieve them. Hood of Longstreet’s -command, was marshalling his brigades within the -timber on the west, and Mansfield’s corps was -moving up through the rough woodland on the -east, and for a season the open space between was -unoccupied save by the dead and wounded, and the -rolling, drifting smoke from the artillery.</p> - -<p>The next movement visible to us was from the -Confederate side, whence, with a rapid rush, came -the command of General Hood,—Texas, Georgia, -and Alabama men. In a few minutes they had -crossed the open field in the face of our guns, and -although a portion of their line faltered, yet another -pushed even up to the line of our batteries, silencing -almost every gun. Mansfield had fallen, but -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">96</span> -his men were there, and their rattling volleys showed -that the enemy could get no foothold in the wood, -just in the edge of which the line of smoke hung -steadily an hour or more.</p> - -<p>At nine o’clock the contest was for the moment -ended by the advance of Sedgwick’s division of -Sumner’s corps, before which the southern troops -broke and fled over the glade to the cover opposite, -and again our guns opened upon their shelter.</p> - -<p>Sedgwick’s division was the right of Sumner’s -corps, and now between it and us moved up from -the Antietam the divisions of Richardson and -French, his left and centre. Unobserved by the -enemy, we could see them forming for the attack, -and we watched with intense interest their steady -progress diagonally across our front. As they -crossed the summit of each rise, they came under -the fire of the rebel batteries; but our twenty-pounders -playing over their heads, kept the rebel -lines crackling with shells, to the comfort of our -friends and the confusion of their foes. In each -depression of the land Richardson and French -halted to dress their ranks, and then moved quickly -on; and so they won closer and closer to the -enemy, until they were so near that the guns of -our batteries could not help nor those of the enemy -hurt them. Here, in a field of standing corn, they -came upon the infantry of General Hill, who, protected -by fences and road cuttings, opened a galling -fire. Receiving but not answering this, Sumner’s -divisions, aided by horse batteries from Porter’s -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">97</span> -corps, dashed forward and secured these defences -for themselves, driving out the Confederate infantry -on the right, capturing or slaying them in the -sunken road on the left. For a few brief minutes -the carnage was terrific.</p> - -<p>Here Richardson and French, not without frequent -contests, held their advanced position all the -day. We have described their movement as if it -had been an isolated one; but it was not so. The -right of Sumner’s corps, the division of “Old John” -Sedgwick, was carrying everything before it. It -swept in solid form across the glade, and pushed -out of our sight into and through what we have -called the western wood, and into the open land -beyond.</p> - -<p>The violence of this attack outran discretion and -the division found itself out in the open fields with -no support on either flank, and met by fresh troops -of the enemy. Falling slowly back it came into -line with the division of General French, but leaving -a great gap between, into which the advancing -forces of the enemy hastened to drive a cleaving -wedge.</p> - -<p>It was now one o’clock P. M., and we held the -whole of the right and centre of General Lee’s original -position, but not firmly. Besides the danger at -the gap between Sedgwick and French, the latter -was short of ammunition and Sedgwick’s right was -feeble.</p> - -<p>At this time, most opportunely, McClellan ordered -forward his reserve, the corps of General -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">98</span> -Franklin; and that officer dividing his command, -closed up the threatened gap, re-inforced French’s -line and strengthened Sedgwick’s right, welding the -whole to such tough consistency that no further -impression could be made. What we had won we -held.</p> - -<p>Three o’clock in the afternoon and nothing seen -of Burnside yet.</p> - -<p>The most untutored of those who had watched -the varying fortunes of the field could see that if -Lee’s right had been attacked while McClellan was -thus hammering on his left, either his right or left -must have yielded. We had seen troops moving -from the one flank to reinforce the other, until it -seemed as if none could remain to hold the right. -From officers about the headquarters we knew -that McClellan, in person, had the night before -advanced the division of Burnside’s corps close to -the bridge, and that he had told that general to -reconnoitre carefully, in readiness for attacking in -the morning. We knew that at six o’clock he had -been ordered to form his troops for the assault upon -the bridge, and that at eight o’clock orders had been -sent to carry the bridge, gain the heights, and move -upon Sharpsburg.</p> - -<p>General McClellan himself looked not more -anxiously for movement on the left, than did we who -saw the gallant fighting of the right; but five hours -had passed before the capture of the bridge by the -twin 51sts of New York and Pennsylvania, and -since then two more of those priceless hours had -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">99</span> -passed away. Oh! if Sheridan or our Griffin could -but have been commanding there.</p> - -<p>The last peremptory order to advance and “not to -stop for loss of life” produced the wished-for movement, -but it was too late and too hesitating to accomplish -great results.</p> - -<p>When, at last, the heights were gained, the -division of A. P. Hill had arrived to reinforce the -enemy, who could also spare something from in front -of our now-weakened right.</p> - -<p>Burnside’s men fought well—gave only slowly -back, and that not far. Six battalions of regulars -from our corps moved to the front, joining the right -of Burnside’s corps to the left of Sumner’s, and -leaving our (Morell’s) division, in the rear of the -advanced line, the only reserve force of McClellan’s -army. One brigade was sent to the left to strengthen -Burnside, and at five P. M., our own, the last, -was marched toward the right, but the declining sun -already showed that the contest for the day must -soon be ended. Just as it reached the horizon there -was one roaring <i>feu d’enfer</i> along both lines, and -almost of a sudden the firing ceased, and the battle -of the Antietam had filled its page in history. It was -an important victory. By it Washington, Maryland, -and Pennsylvania were relieved from menace and -the country for a time was grateful.</p> - -<p>Just as it appeared to the looker-on the battle of -Antietam has been described. What happened, -before our eyes has been told, without digressions, -and the digressions may now be added. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">100</span></p> - -<p>The battle-field was all day long bathed in sunshine; -hardly one cloud appeared to throw even a -passing shadow over the fair autumnal landscape, of -which the background was made up of shadowed -tracts of woodland, and into which were introduced -blocks of rough pasture, lawn-like vistas, rolling -fields of corn ready for the harvest, with just enough -of distant spire and nearer farmstead to add a look -of human comfort to the natural beauty of the scene. -Although the foreground and the middle distance of -this picture were occupied by the various combatants—killing -and maiming—wounded and dying—there -was present to our sight no blemish of horror. -We saw no ghastly wounds, no streams of flowing -gore; we heard no groans nor sighs nor oaths of -the struggle, and rarely did the sound even of southern -yells or northern cheers penetrate the massive -roar of ordnance to reach our ears; and yet before -our eyes was fought a battle in which four thousand -men were slain, and fifteen thousand more were disabled -by savage wounds.</p> - -<p>So entirely were the sadder sights of bloody war -excluded from our minds, that when two men of our -Regiment were badly wounded by the accidental discharge -of a falling rifle, the incident created almost -as much excitement as one like it might have done -at a muster of militia here at home.</p> - -<p>It must not be imagined that any one of us stood -throughout that equinoctial day gazing upon the -sunlit scene beyond the Antietam, for in time even -the terrible events of battle fall tamely upon eye and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">101</span> -ear. In the long pauses between the rounds of -infantry fighting we sat down upon the green sward -and ate our lunch, or strolled away to talk with -the staff officers about the headquarters, or over -to one of our other brigades to discuss the incidents -of the action, or to hear or tell the news of its latest -casualties.</p> - -<p>The rank and file who had not the same liberty to -stray away, and who, screened from the field by the -knoll on which our batteries were planted, saw little -or nothing of the fight—passed the time in chat -with laugh and story, as they stood, or sat, or laid, -keeping in some sort the form of the massed column -which was more distinctly marked by lines of rifles -in the stack. Every man of them knew that at any -moment he might be called to be reaper or grain in -the harvest of death so near at hand; but men cannot -keep themselves strained up to the pitch of -heroic thought or wearing anxiety, and so within the -line of battle our men joked and laughed and talked -and ate, or even slept in the warm sunshine.</p> - -<p>No heartier laugh ever rewarded Irish wit than -that which shook our sides when Guiney, the handsome -Colonel of the Massachusetts 9th, bedecking -himself in the gorgeous apparel of a brilliant sash, -was reminded that it would make him a capital mark -for the enemy’s sharp-shooters, and replied, “and -wouldn’t you have me a handsome corpse?”</p> - -<p>Early in the day, as soon as we were in position -in rear of the batteries, some of our mounted officers -naturally desiring to get a correct idea of the lay of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">102</span> -the land and the order of the battle, rode at a foot -pace to the summit of the knoll in front, and from their -saddles were quietly examining the position of -affairs through field-glasses, and pointing hither and -yon as they conversed, when the chief of some rebel -battery, possibly suspecting them to be big generals -and high functionaries, began from two guns some -practice with round shot, using the mounted officers -for the bull’s-eye of the target. In their innocence -they assumed that this sort of thing was a matter of -course on such occasions, and for a time they went -on with their observations.</p> - -<p>It was not long however before the aim became -more accurate, and our officers suddenly became -aware of the scared looks of the German gunners, -who, watching for the smoke of the rebel guns, -dodged behind the trail of their own pieces until the -shot had passed by, and presently a sergeant ventured -to suggest that the gentlemen were drawing -the fire on the battery, and to prefer the request -that they would send away the horses and pursue -their study of the field dismounted, which not -unwillingly they did.</p> - -<p>Not far from mid-day, in an interval of comparative -quiet along the lines, most of us stretched at -full length basking in the sun and waiting for “what -next?” enjoyed a beautiful sight in the endeavor of -the enemy to shell our division.</p> - -<p>As we were hidden from his view no direct shot -could reach us, and he seemed to have calculated -that by exploding his shells high in the air, the fragments -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">103</span> -could be dropped among our ranks. What -became of the fragments we did not know, hardly -one of them fell near us, none of them did us injury; -but we watched for the shells with interest, and were -sorry when they came no more. Gazing up into -the clear blue sky there would from time to time -suddenly appear a little cloudlet, which unfolding -itself drifted lazily away, and soon melted in the -air. Each of these cloudlets was the smoke from -an exploding shell, the rapid flight of which gave -no other evidence of its existence to the eye, and -all sound was lost in the general tumult. Each -seemingly miraculous appearance of the cloudlet -was hailed with admiration, and we were quite -ready to enjoy the entertainment as long as our -friend the enemy chose to supply it, and were -inclined to be gruff with him when it stopped.</p> - -<p>While the divisions of Generals Richardson and -French were advancing on the Confederate centre, -a gun from one of Porter’s horse batteries was run -out quite a distance to the left, where, from a little -swell of land, entirely unsupported, it opened upon -the rebel infantry. The rake upon the enemy’s line -was so complete that after the first few shots we -could see them breaking; but the position was untenable -and after the gun had been discharged perhaps -a dozen times, the enemy got two guns to bear upon -it, whereupon our gun was hastily limbered up and -went scampering back to cover as fast as four horses -could run with it, and as it went rebel shots could be -seen striking up the dust all about its track, as the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">104</span> -stones strike about an escaping dog when boys are -pelting him.</p> - -<p>When such an incident occurred we could hardly -refrain from cheers. And when—as was once or -twice the case—we could see some movement of the -enemy against our lines which was unseen to those -it menaced, it was almost irresistible to cry out a -warning, and several times shells from the batteries -of our division gave to the Union troops the first -warning of a threatening movement.</p> - -<p>Twenty-five days after the battle our Company C -on detached service encamped for a night on the -plateau, the summit of the heights which were won -by Burnside’s charge, and Captain Fuller observing -that the line of battle could even then be traced -by the cartridge papers which lay in winrows on -the ground, wondered that troops which had so -gallantly charged up the steep ascent should have -halted in this place long enough to have used so -many cartridges.</p> - -<p>On the 18th of September, Porter’s corps relieved -Burnside’s at the lower bridge, and then we saw -only too many of the woful sights which belong to -battle, and saw them without that halo of excitement -which in the midst of the contest diminishes their -horror.</p> - -<p>On the 19th, at dawn, we were in expectation of -immediate participation in a second battle, but the -enemy had retreated. In the pursuit Porter led the -way. After passing through the town of Sharpsburg, -the artillery occupied the roadway, the infantry -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">105</span> -moving along the fields on either side. At each -rise of the land, a few pieces dashed to the summit -and shelled the nearer woods, the infantry forming -in the hollow in the rear, and so we felt our way a -mile or two down to the Potomac. The rear guard -of the enemy had just crossed the river, and General -Griffin with parts of two brigades followed closely, -capturing some prisoners and much property, -among which were the very guns that were lost on -the Peninsula from the battery he then commanded.</p> - -<p>Returning, he reported the enemy as in full flight, -and on the 20th Porter prepared to give immediate -chase. A part of one of his divisions had crossed -the ford and gained the bluffs on the right bank. -Our own brigade was on the high lands of the other -bank, when, looking across we saw the woods -swarm out with rebel infantry rushing upon our little -force. A sharp cannonade checked them and covered -the return of nearly all our regiments, but the -108th Pennsylvania was cut off from the road to -the river crossing, and forced to retire up a rising -ground, terminating at the river in a high bluff, from -which the only escape was to scramble down the -steep cliff and thus to gain the ford.</p> - -<p>The men poured like a cataract over the edge and -down the declivity, and so long as they stayed at its -immediate base they were tolerably safe, but their -assailants soon gained the edge of the bluff and -lying flat, could pick off any who attempted to cross -to the Maryland side, and many were killed or -wounded and drowned before our eyes. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">106</span></p> - -<p>Our brigade was formed near to the ford; sharp-shooters -were placed along the river bank, and the -artillery rattled solid shot upon the summit of the -bluff. After a time the Pennsylvanians began to -run the gauntlet of the ford, but it was several hours -before all of them had left the other shore.</p> - -<p>In this time many gallant acts were performed, -but none more daring than that of the Adjutant of -the 108th, who, after reaching the Maryland shore, -walked back upon the plate of the dam just above -the ford, and standing there midway across the river, -exposed from head to heels, shouted the directions -to his men as to the manner of their escape from -their awkward fix.</p> - -<p>When this fight at the ford was over it was -near nightfall, and the army encamped along the -river side, the pickets of each army occupying its -own bank, and for weeks it was all quiet on the -Potomac. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">107</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="VII">VII.<br /> - -<i>AFTER ANTIETAM.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">THE life of a soldier in war-time is made up of -alternating seasons of severe toil and of almost -absolute idleness. For a few weeks he will be -marched to the utmost limit of endurance—will be -set to felling forests—building bridges or roads—constructing -defences—and then may follow other -weeks when his heaviest occupations are made up of -drills, parades, and drawing or eating rations.</p> - -<p>Such a time of repose was that which we passed -on the banks of the Potomac, near Sharpsburg, -guarding the line of the Potomac which for lack of -heavy autumnal rains was fordable almost anywhere. -Generals, quartermasters and commissaries -may have been busy, but it was an idle time for -the bulk of the army. Stretching for some fifteen -miles along the course of the river, the various corps -were encamped in due form, the entire regularity -of which could be seen from any neighboring -eminence. From some such points one could -take into view a landscape brilliant with the colors -of autumn made yet brighter by the gleam of -the orderly array of white tents, and could see the -bounds of each regiment, brigade, or division, as if -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">108</span> -marked upon a map. At night, before tattoo, the -lines of lighted tents would show from a distance, -like an army of glow-worms.</p> - -<p>To supply the wants of the army of men, another -army of wagon trains was kept in constant occupation, -and the road was soon covered with fine dust, -which rose in clouds when it was stirred by the -movements of the trains, or by the horses of -mounted officers or men; and as these roads -extended everywhere among the camps, we lived all -day long in an atmosphere of dirt, which when -moved by fresh winds, drove and drifted about to -our exceeding discomfort. As the weather grew -cooler this was increased by the smoke of the camp-fires, -until everybody was habitually clothed in dust, -and red about the eyes.</p> - -<p>Along the picket lines the men of both armies, -having agreed not to fire without previous notice, -lolled in the sunshine, chaffed each other over -the water, and occasionally traded newspapers even, -or union coffee for confederate tobacco.</p> - -<p>Once in a while there was a foraging expedition -or a reconnoissance across the river. In one of -these we captured quite a number of prisoners at -Shepardstown, chiefly officers and men absent on -leave and visiting their friends in that vicinity. One -reconnoissance to Leetown occupied two days, and -was followed back right sharply by a strong force -of the enemy. We remember particularly the fact -that on the advance we found where a long-range -shell had exploded among a card party of the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">109</span> -enemy’s men, one or two of whom lay dead with the -cards still in their hands.</p> - -<p>This uneventful life, aided no doubt by prevalent -but not serious bilious disorders, developed in our -Regiment a general tendency to homesickness and -“hypo.” To counteract it several attempts were -made to initiate games and athletic exercises among -the men, and the officers were requested to set an -example to the men by organizing amusements -among themselves—but it amounted to nothing, it -seemed impossible to induce the men to amuse -themselves.</p> - -<p>We kept no very careful note of time. One day -was pretty much like every other. Sundays were -noticeable only for the absence of drills and a little -more stupidity. To go home was the height of anybody’s -ambition.</p> - -<p>Private Callahan, of K Company, sought to be -discharged for disability—the disability was beyond -question, for he was born with it, and he was told -by the Surgeon that he ought not to have accepted -the bounty for enlistment; that he “ought to be -hung” for doing it, to which somewhat severe criticism -the soldier retorted that he “would die first.” -It may not be necessary to state that Callahan was -Irish. At Fredericksburg he lost a finger and obtained -his coveted discharge.</p> - -<p>We were so long here that, as the season advanced, -we began to construct defences against the -weather, and the acting adjutant even dreamed of a -log hut, with a real door and real hinges. The only -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">110</span> -artificer at his command was his negro servant, a -man who could admire but could not comprehend -long dictionary words. The Adjutant, directing the -negro as to the construction of the door frame, told -him certain parts were to be perpendicular, others -horizontal, and others parallel; but the black man’s -face showed no evidence of comprehension, until -after a dozen different forms of the same instruction -had been resorted to and the master’s patience was -exhausted, the idea penetrated the darkened mind of -the servant, who turned upon the officer with the -pertinent remark, “Why, massa, what you wants is -ter have it <i>true</i>, ain’t it?”</p> - -<p>New orders of architecture were rapidly developed, -and the manufacture of furniture became an -extensive occupation. It was quite wonderful what -results could be obtained in both of these industries -by the use of barrels and hard-bread boxes. Of the -barrels we made chimneys and chairs; and of the -boxes, tables, washstands, cupboards, and the walls -and clapboards of our dwellings.</p> - -<p>We were really getting to be very comfortable in -the latter days of October, 1862, when the orders -began to intimate that we would not live always in -that neighborhood. First, our Company C was detached -for a guard to the reserve artillery, where -it served for ten months. Then, on the 30th, the -whole army drew out like a great serpent, and -moved away down the Potomac to Harper’s Ferry, -crossing the river there, then up on the Virginia side, -and along the foot hills of the Blue Ridge. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">111</span></p> - -<p>It was lively times again, and the march was -rapid—often forced; but the weather was cool and -bracing, and the men were glad of the change. -From the 2d to the 15th of November we were on -the eastern slopes of the Ridge, and Lee’s army in -its western valley, racing each for the advantage -over the other.</p> - -<p>At each gap there was a lively fight for the control -of the pass, but we were always ahead, and -possession is as many points in war as it is in law. -Holding these passes, our movements could be, to a -considerable extent, masked from the observation of -the enemy, while his were known to our General, -whose object was to keep the army of the enemy -strung out to the greatest possible length, and at a -favorable moment to pounce upon its centre, divide -and conquer it.</p> - -<p>With the sound of guns almost always in our ears, -we raced away through Snickersville, Middlebury, -White Plains, and New Baltimore to Warrenton, -with little to eat and plenty of exercise. Near -White Plains, on the 8th, we marched all day in a -snow-storm, and at night, splashed and chilled, -bivouacked in a sprout field, making ourselves as -comfortable as might be on three or four inches of -snow.</p> - -<p>Throughout this march the orders were very -stringent against straggling and marauding. No -allowance was made for transportation of regimental -rations except the haversacks of the soldiers, and on -the march in cold weather it is a poor (or good) -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">112</span> -soldier that does not eat three days’ rations in two. -Our changes of base left us often very short of supplies, -and it was not in the most amiable mood that -we came to our nightly camp.</p> - -<p>Acting-quartermaster Dana, hungering for fleshpots, -was tempted by the sight of a fat turkey on a -barn-yard fence. The road was a by-way, and not -a soul in sight. Before he could recall the tenor of -the orders, he had covered the bird with his revolver, -but at that moment General Butterfield, with his staff -and escort, following the abrupt turn of the road, -came upon the quartermaster in the very act, and -scared the bird, which flopped heavily down from -the fence and disappeared. To the General’s angry -demand for an explanation, Dana quietly replied -that he was about to shoot that “buzzard.”</p> - -<p>“Buzzard!” roared the General, “that was a turkey, -sir.” “Was it, indeed?” replied the innocent -officer; “how fortunate, General, that you came as -you did, for in two minutes more I should have shot -him for a buzzard.” Dana thought that, amid the -laughter which succeeded, he heard the General -describe him as an idiot, but he was not sufficiently -certain about it to warrant charges against the General -for unofficer-like language.</p> - -<p>The hurried march from Sharpsburg to Warrenton -was fruitful in cases of marauding for court-martial -trials, but these courts very generally refused -to convict, on the ground that the men had been so -ill-supplied from our commissariat, that some irregularity -was excusable. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">113</span></p> - -<p>One of our sergeants, a butcher by trade, strolling -about the woods, came upon a party of men -who had captured and killed, and were about cutting -up, a rebel pig. Shocked at the unskilful way -in which they were operating, our sergeant volunteered -his advice and services, which were gratefully -accepted. In the midst of the operation the -party was surprised by one of the brigade staff, -and the non-commissioned officer, being tried by -court-martial, was by its sentence reduced to the -ranks and deprived of six months’ pay. The story -ends sadly, for his mortification from loss of rank, -and possibly his anxiety from fear that his family -might suffer from the loss of pay, caused him to -droop and die.</p> - -<p>One of our men, returning from a private foraging -expedition laden with a heavy leg of beef, was captured -by the provost guard, and, by order of General -Griffin, was kept all day “walking post,” with -the beef on his shoulder, in front of the headquarters’ -tents. As the General passed his beat he -would occasionally entertain him with some question -as to the price of beef, or the state of the provision -trade, and at retreat the man, <i>minus his beef</i>, was -sent down to his regiment “for proper punishment,” -which his commanding officer concluded that he had -already received.</p> - -<p>Yet another soldier was sent to our headquarters -by the Colonel of the Ninth Massachusetts, with -the statement that he had been arrested for marauding. -Upon cross-examination of the culprit it -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">114</span> -appeared that he had been captured with a quarter -of veal in his possession by the provost guard of -the Ninth Regiment. A regimental provost guard -was a novelty in the army, but when, on further -questioning, it appeared that the offending soldier -had been compelled to leave the veal at Colonel -Guiney’s quarters, the advantage of such an organization -in hungry times to the headquarters’ mess was -apparent, and our Colonel at once ordered a provost -guard to be detailed from the Thirty-second, with -orders to capture marauders and turn over their ill-gotten -plunder to his cook. Unhappily, within the -next twenty-four hours, some high General, whose -larder was growing lean, forbade regimental provost -guards in general orders.</p> - -<p>It was during our stay at Warrenton that General -Griffin requested the attendance of Colonel Parker -and told him, not as an official communication, but -for his personal information, that three officers of -the Thirty-second had, during the previous night, -taken and killed a sheep, the property of a farmer -near by. Of course the Colonel expressed his regret -at the occurrence, but he represented to -the General that, inasmuch as the officers of our -regiment were not generally men of abundant -means, and inasmuch as they had received no pay -from their Government for several months, and inasmuch -as it was forbidden them to obtain food by -taking it either from the rations of their men or the -property of the enemy, he (the Colonel) would be -glad to know how officers were to live? The -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">115</span> -General, utterly astonished at the state of affairs thus -disclosed, asked in return for some suggestion to -relieve the difficulty. The suggestion made that -officers should be allowed to buy from the commissaries -on credit, was, at the request of General -Griffin, embodied in a formal written communication -to him, and by an order the next day from the -headquarters of the army, it became a standing -regulation until the end of the war.</p> - -<p>On the 10th of November the Army of the Potomac -was massed near Warrenton as if a general -action was at hand, when everybody was surprised -by the announcement of the removal of General -McClellan from its command. It was a sad day -among the camps. The troops turned out at nine -o’clock, bordering the road, each regiment in -doubled column, and General McClellan, followed -by all the generals with their staffs, a cortege of a -hundred or more mounted officers, rode through the -lines, saluted and cheered continually.</p> - -<p>It happened that the 32d was the first regiment -to be reviewed. Being a regiment of soldiers, it -was accustomed to salute its officers in a soldierly -way, and on this occasion was, probably, the only -battalion in the army that did not cheer “Little -Mac,” but stood steadily, with arms presented, colors -drooping, and drums beating. From the surprised -expression on the General’s face, it was evident that -for a moment he feared that he had overrated the -good-will of his troops. The incident, though really -creditable to the Regiment, was considered as a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">116</span> -slight to the General, and for a time was the cause -of considerable feeling against the 32d. Even the -politics of its commander could not prevent its being -stigmatized as an “Abolition concern.”</p> - -<p>At noon the officers of the Fifth corps were -received by General McClellan, who shook hands -with all, and at the close of the reception said, his -voice broken with emotion: “Gentlemen, I hardly -know how to bid you good-bye. We have been so -long together that it is very hard. Whatever fate -may await me I shall never be able to think of myself -except as belonging to the Army of the Potomac. -For what you have done history will do you -justice—this generation never will. I must say it. -‘Good-bye.’” And so the army parted from the -first, the most trusted, and the ablest of its commanders. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">117</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="VIII">VIII.<br /> - -<i>TO FREDERICKSBURG.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">GENERAL BURNSIDE assumed the command -and we remained quiet for a week, then -moved slowly away toward Falmouth and Fredericksburg, -where we arrived on the 22d of November, -and encamped near Potomac Creek, at a place afterwards -known as “Stoneman’s Switch.” This camp -was destined to be our home for nearly six months, -but the popular prejudice against winter quarters -was so great that we were never allowed to feel that -it was more than a temporary camp.</p> - -<p>On several occasions we had suffered for want of -supplies, generally not more than for a day or two, -and when on the march; but for ten days after our -arrival near Fredericksburg, the whole army was on -short allowance. Our base was supposed to be at -Acquia Creek, but the railroad was not reconstructed -and what supplies we got were wagoned up -some miles from Belle Plain, over or through roads -which were alternately boggy with mud, or rough -with the frozen inequalities of what had been a miry -way.</p> - -<p>Little by little the scarcity became more severe; -for a week there had been no meat-ration, nothing -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">118</span> -was issued except hard-bread, and on the morning -of Thanksgiving Day, there was absolutely no food -for the Regiment. The evening previous, one box -of hard-bread, the last remainder of the supply of -the headquarters’ mess was issued to the Regiment, -giving one half of a cracker to each man, and this -was gratefully received.</p> - -<p>That Thanksgiving Day dawned upon a famished -and almost mutinous army. Rude signs were set -up in the camp, such as “Camp Starvation,” -“Death’s Headquarters,” “Misery.” Every General -as he appeared, was hailed with cries for “hard-bread, -hard-bread!” and matters looked threatening. -In the 32d there was no disturbance, but the men sat -about with moody looks and faces wan with hunger. -Officers had been despatched in every direction in -search of food but, it was high noon before even hard-biscuit -could be obtained. Then twenty boxes were -procured by borrowing from the regular division, -and they were brought to our camp from a distance of -two miles, on the shoulders of our men.</p> - -<p>That morning the breakfast table of the field and -staff mess, exhibited a small plate of fried hard-bread -and another of beefsteak, obtained by incredible -exertions of the Adjutant the day before, in -order to do honor to the festival. One must be very -hungry to know how sumptuous the repast appeared, -but none of us could eat while the soldiers were -starving, and the breakfast was sent to the hospital -tent.</p> - -<p>One man refused to do duty, declaring that the -government had agreed to pay, clothe, and feed him, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">119</span> -and having left him penniless, ragged, and starving -with cold and hunger, he could not be expected to -keep his part of the contract. With this one exception -the bearing of our men was superb, and was -in remarkable contrast with that of the army in -general.</p> - -<p>At the company roll call at “retreat,” the soldier just -referred to, who had been in confinement all day, -was marched through the camp under guard, and -made to face each company in succession, while a -regimental order was read acknowledging and -thanking the men for their good behavior under trying -circumstances, and closing with the declaration -that “if on this day of Thanksgiving we have failed -to enjoy the abundance which has usually marked -the festival, we have at least one reason for thankfulness -and that is, that when all of us were hungry -there was only one man who desired to shirk his -duty, leaving it to be done by his equally-hungry -comrades, and that the name of that man was —— ——.”</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding the repeated declarations that -there would be no winter quarters short of Richmond, -the army proceeded to make itself as comfortable -as possible. The woods melted rapidly to -supply the great camp-fires, now needed for warmth -as well as cooking; and the soldiers, organizing -themselves into messes, built shelters more satisfactory -than the canvas which was provided for that -purpose.</p> - -<p>Great variety of ingenuity was exhibited in the -construction of these quarters. A few were content -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">120</span> -with an excavation in the ground, over which would -be pitched a roofing of tent cloth; but some of -the quarters rose almost to the dignity of cottages, -having walls of logs, the interstices closed by a -plastering of clay, and roofs of rough-hewn slabs, -or thatched with branches of pine. Windows were -covered by canvas, and chimneys were built up cob -fashion and plastered inside, and comfortable fires -blazed upon the hearths.</p> - -<p>About the headquarters of the generals were -enclosing fences of sapling pines set into the ground -upright, and held firmly in that position. Within -the enclosures were grouped the tents of the general, -his staff, and their servants, some of them -having outer walls of boards enclosing the sides -of their wall tents.</p> - -<p>The weather was of a variety indescribable, -except as Virginia weather—alternating periods -of cold so severe as to freeze men on picket duty, -and so warm as to make overcoats an insupportable -burden. The rains made the earth everywhere -miry, then it would freeze the uneven mud to the -hardness of stone, then a thaw made everything -mud and all travel impossible, and presently dry -winds would convert all into dust and blow about in -clouds.</p> - -<p>One of the wonders of these times was the army -cough; what with the smoke of the camp fires, the -dust of the country, and the effect of the variable -weather upon people living out of doors, there was -a general tendency to bronchial irritations, which -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">121</span> -would break out into coughing when the men first -awoke, and it is almost a literal fact, that when one -hundred thousand men began to stir at reveille, the -sound of their coughing would drown that of the -beating drums.</p> - -<p>Here for three weeks in preparation for another -movement “on to Richmond,” we drilled, were -inspected and reviewed—relieving these severer -duties by chopping, hauling, and burning wood.</p> - -<p>Those of us who had the opportunity, occasionally -went over toward the river, where from the high -lands we could watch the Confederate lines, and look -on to see them getting the opposite heights good and -strong in readiness for our attack.</p> - -<p>On the 10th of December, the orders began to -read as if they really meant fight, and the great -point of interest in our discussions was as to the -direction of the next movement—whether we were -to flank Lee by way of the fords of the Rappahannock -as was generally believed, or whether, as some -said, we were to embark for Harrison’s Landing or -City Point, and flank Richmond itself.</p> - -<p>No voice was heard to intimate that any such consummate -folly could be intended as to attack squarely -in face those defenses which we had apparently been -quite willing to allow our enemy to construct, and -for weeks most deliberately to strengthen. But such -was indeed the forlorn hope imposed upon the Army -of the Potomac.</p> - -<p>December 11th, 1862.—Reveille sounded at 3 -A.M. The morning was cool and frosty, the ground -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">122</span> -frozen, the air perfectly still—so still and of such -barometrical condition that the smoke of the camp-fires -did not rise to any considerable height, and was -not wafted away, but murked the whole country -with its haze, through which objects when visible -looked distorted and ghostly, and the bugles sounding -the assembly had a strange and impressive tone.</p> - -<p>The first break of day found the brigade formed -for the march. The troops wore their overcoats, -and outside of them were strapped knapsacks, haversacks, -cartridge-boxes, and cap-pouches, all filled -to their utmost capacity; and in rolls worn sash-like -over one shoulder and under the other, were their -blankets and the canvas of their <i>tentes d’arbri</i>.</p> - -<p>The dull boom of two guns from the westward -was evidently a signal, and the bugle sounded -“forward.” That day it was the turn of our Regiment -to lead the Brigade, and of our Brigade to lead -the Corps, and we were at once <i>en route</i> in the -direction of Fredericksburg, which was three miles -away. Soon after the march began the sun rose, -showing at first only its huge, dull-red disk, but -soon rising above the haze, throwing its bright -beams athwart the landscape, making it and us -cheery with their warmth and shine. With the sunrise -came a gentle movement of the air, pushing -away the smoke from the uplands, but leaving the -river valley thick with fog. Midway between our -camp and the river we crossed the summit of a -round-topped hill, from which, by reason of the -sweep of the river, we could see for a distance the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">123</span> -rolling lands of Stafford Heights, which on its left -bank form the immediate valley of the Rappahannock, -and over all these hills, now glowing in the -sunlight, were moving in columns of fours, converging, -apparently, toward a common centre, the various -corps and divisions of the Army of the Potomac, -more than a hundred thousand men.</p> - -<p>Across the river could be seen, but not as yet -distinctly, the fortified line of hills occupied by Lee’s -Army of Virginia. Between us and them, the river -and the river bottoms on the farther side, with all -of the town of Fredericksburg except the church -spires and the cupola of its Court House, were -shrouded in vapor.</p> - -<p>General Burnside had established headquarters in -the Phillips house, a fine brick mansion overlooking -the valley and the town, and our grand division was -massed near by in a large field of almost level land, -entirely bare of tree or shade, and here we passed -the whole day under a warm December sun, which -softened the ground into mud, glared in our eyes, -and baked our unprotected heads.</p> - -<p>Before we reached this spot the dogs of war were -in full cry. Down by the river side there were frequent -sputterings of musketry, and the hills on -either side of the river were roaring with the sound -of the great guns from their earth-work batteries.</p> - -<p>About the Phillips house, on its piazza and in its -rooms, there were gatherings of general and field -officers, discussing with more or less warmth the -situation and the probabilities. Occasionally a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">124</span> -mounted officer or orderly would come dashing up -from the river side, looking hot and anxious, and -after delivering or receiving reports or orders, would -hasten down again to his station; but, on the whole, -things were very deliberately done.</p> - -<p>When the fog lifted, below us, and directly on our -bank of the stream, could be seen the hospitable-looking -Lacy house with its low wings, under the -lee of which, sheltered from the fire of the enemy, -were groups of officers, their horses picketed in the -dooryard. On the opposite side of the river, its -houses coming close down to high-water mark, lay -the compactly built town of Fredericksburg; beyond -it a space of level land, narrowing at the upper end -of the town to nothing, but opening below into a -wide plain, which, so far as we could see, was -everywhere bounded to the west by a rise of land -more or less abrupt, forming the lip of the valley -there. This rising land terminated just above the -town, in a bluff at the river bank.</p> - -<p>The right and centre grand divisions of Burnside’s -army occupied the heights on the eastern side -of the river. Lee’s forces were entrenched in those -on the western side. Between them, the River -Rappahannock and the city of Fredericksburg.</p> - -<p>The left grand division, under Franklin, one or -two miles down the river, before 10 o’clock had laid -pontoon bridges and secured a foot-hold on the -opposite shore. Between him and the enemy was a -nearly open plain, the extent of which, from the -river to the rising ground, was more than a mile. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">125</span> -On our left everything had gone smoothly and well; -all opposition to the crossing had been easily overcome, -but in the immediate front of the town it was -quite another story.</p> - -<p>At early dawn the engineers were ready and -began to lay the pontoon bridges opposite the town. -A dozen or more of the boats had been moored into -position, and men were actively at work laying -plank across, when Barksdale’s Mississippians -opened fire and drove the Union men to cover. -Calling up a brigade of Hancock’s men to cover the -work, repeated attempts were made to bridge the -river, but the Confederates occupying the houses on -their bank could fire from windows without being -seen themselves, and the endeavors of the engineers, -although gallantly made, were unsuccessful.</p> - -<p>Then followed a long consultation at headquarters, -which resulted in an order to concentrate the -fire of our artillery on Fredericksburg, and for an -hour or more a hundred and fifty guns played on -the town. Fires broke out in several places and -raged without restraint. During and after the cannonade -our troops essayed again and again to moor -the boats and lay the bridge, but the fire of the enemy, -although reduced, was yet too fierce, and at -last, about four, P. M., two or three of the boats -of the pontoon train were loaded with volunteers -and pushed across the river at a bend above the -buildings, the rebels were flanked and driven from -their shelter, and the bridge was speedily constructed. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">126</span></p> - -<p>To us, three-quarters of a mile away, the delay -finally became irksome and the Colonel and Major, -moved by curiosity, rode down to the river. The -Rappahannock here lies deep between its banks and -they rode to the edge of the bluff, peering over, up -and down the stream, to see what might be seen. -The firing for the time had ceased, and all seemed -quiet except the crackling flames of the burning -buildings. The gunners of the two-gun battery -close by were chatting, leaning lazily against the -gun-carriages. Below, the river, waiting the turn -of the tide to flood, was still and smooth. Opposite, -the warehouses, thrusting their unhandsome walls -down to the line of tidal mud, seemed utterly deserted; -two or three of them were yet burning, a few -were badly battered, but on the whole the storm of -shot and shell had done wonderfully little harm.</p> - -<p>A rifle ball, passing between the two officers, -singing as it went, reminded them that everything -was not as peaceful as it seemed, and they turned -away just as the battery joined the renewed bombardment -to cover the forlorn hope in their boat -crossing.</p> - -<p>That night we bivouacked in a neighboring wood, -where we remained also the next day and night, -while Franklin on one side of us, and Sumner on -the other, were crossing and deploying their commands -below and in the town, covered for the -greater part of the day by a dense fog which allowed -neither the enemy nor us to see much of the movements. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">127</span></p> - -<p>General Burnside would seem to have had an idea -that he could push his army across the river, attack -Lee’s army and win the heights, before Jackson, -from his position eighteen miles below, could come -to aid his chief. This possibly might have been -done by flanking, if he had been content to cross -the Rappahannock where Franklin, at 9 o’clock on -the 11th, had succeeded in establishing his bridges; -but before the upper pontoon bridges could be laid, -the rebel right wing, under Jackson, had effected its -junction with the lines of Longstreet, and Lee’s army -was again united.</p> - -<p>December 13th, 1862,—the day of the battle of -Fredericksburg,—opened clear and bright, except -that over the lowlands bordering the river was -stretched a veil of vapor which laid there until 9 -o’clock. The grand divisions of Sumner and Franklin -were over the river and ready for battle—Sumner -in the streets of Fredericksburg, which ran parallel -to the river, and Franklin in the open plain below -the town. Our (Hooker’s) grand division yet occupied -the heights on the eastern side of the Rappahannock, -from which—except for the fog—could -be seen the slightly undulating plain, which was to -be Franklin’s field of battle, but from which the -greater part of Sumner’s field was hidden by the -town itself.</p> - -<p>The letter A may be used to demonstrate the -topography of the battle. The left limb of that -letter may represent the line of higher land occupied -by the Confederates, the right limb the line of the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">128</span> -Rappahannock river, and the cross-bar the course -of a sunken creek which separated the lines of -Sumner’s troops from those of Franklin, but which -offered no advantage to our troops, and no impediment -to the fire of either of the combatants. Below -the cross-bar of the A, the space between the limbs -may have averaged two-thirds of a mile in width, -over which Franklin’s men must advance to the -attack, almost constantly exposed to the fire from -the batteries of the rebels, and for at least half the -way to that from the rifles of their infantry. Within -the triangle—the upper portion of the A—was included -the city of Fredericksburg and Sumner’s -<i>aceldama</i>, and here the lines of the enemy were -strengthened by earthworks on the summit of the -heights, (not fifty feet above the level of the plain), -and by stone walls and rifle pits along their base. -Here the space between the foremost rebel line, and -the nearest blocks of houses in the town was nowhere -two thousand feet, and within this narrow space, -under the fire of a mile of batteries, and at least -ten thousand rifles, the Union lines must be formed -for the attack.</p> - -<p>What we saw of Franklin’s battle was what happened -before noon, and after 9 o’clock,—at which -latter hour the fog disappeared, revealing to us and -to the enemy the advancing line of Meade’s division, -to us a moving strip of blue on the dun-colored plain. -We saw it halt, covered no doubt by some undulation -of the land, while a battery on the left was -silenced by the Union guns—then the line moved -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">129</span> -on, fringed sometimes with the smoke of its own -volleys, at other times with the silver-like sheen of -the rifle barrels. We saw the smoke of the rebel -rifles burst from the woods that covered the first -rise of ground—saw Meade’s line disappear in the -woods, followed by at least one other line,—then -our bugles called “attention! forward!” and we -saw no more of Franklin’s fight.</p> - -<p>Early in the morning two of Hooker’s divisions -had been sent to strengthen Franklin, and now -two others, Humphrey’s and Griffins’ (ours) were -ordered to the support of Sumner. A new boat-bridge -had been laid, crossing the river at the lower -part of the town, just below the naked piers of what -had been and is now the railroad bridge, and just -above the outlet of a small stream. The two divisions -were massed on the hill-side near this bridge—an -attractive mark for the rebel cannoneers, who however, -having food for powder close at hand, spared -to us only occasionally a shell. The crossing must -have occupied an hour. Down the steep hill-side -and the steeper bank; over the river and toiling up -the western side; with many waits and hitches—the -serpent-like column moved tediously along. Once -up the bank, and the rifle balls whistled about us -and our casualties began; but we wound our way, -bearing a little to the left, through the lower portion -of the town, where the buildings were detached -and open lots were frequent, availing ourselves of -such cover as could be used, until in a vacant -hollow each regiment as it came up was halted to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">130</span> -leave its knapsacks and blankets. These were -bestowed in heaps, and the men and boys of the -drum-corps were left to guard them. Here too, -by order of the Colonel, the field and staff officers -dismounted, leaving their horses in charge of servants. -Then in fighting trim we moved forward past -the last buildings, out upon the field of battle. Here -was still between us and the enemy a swell of land, -six or eight feet in its greatest height, affording some -slight protection, and we trailed our arms to conceal -our presence from the enemy.</p> - -<p>The confusing roar of the battle was all about us. -Our own batteries of heavy guns from Stafford -Heights were firing over us—a few of our field -pieces were in action near by. The rebel guns all -along their line were actively at work—their shells -exploded all around us, or crashed into the walls of -neighboring buildings, dropping fragments at every -crash; whatever room there might have been in the -atmosphere for other noise, was filled by the rattle -of musketry and the shouts of men.</p> - -<p>No words can fully convey to a reader’s mind the -confusion which exists when one is near enough to -see and know the details of battle. One reads with -interest in the reports of the generals, the letters of -newspaper correspondents, or in the later histories -constructed from those sources, a clear story of -what was done; of formations and movements as if -they were those of the parade; of attack and -repulse—so graphically and carefully described as -to leave clear pictures in one’s mind. But it may be -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">131</span> -doubted whether one who was actively engaged, and -in the thick of the fight, can correctly describe that -which occurred about him, or tell with any degree -of accuracy the order of events or the time -consumed.</p> - -<p>The reports of the battle of Fredericksburg -describe occurrences that never happened, movements -that were never made, incidents that were -impossible. “History” tells how six brigades formed -for attack on our right, in column of brigades, with -intervals of two hundred paces—where no such formation -was possible, and no such space existed. And -at least one general (Meagher), in his reports must -have depended much upon imagination for the facts -so glowingly described.</p> - -<p>To the memory now comes a strange jumble of -such situations and occurrences as do not appear in -the battles of history or of fiction. Of our Regiment -separated from the rest of the brigade, getting into -such positions that it was equally a matter of wonder -that we should ever have gone there, or having -gone should ever have escaped alive—of rejoining -the division, where, one behind the other and -close together in the railroad cut, were three -brigades waiting the order for attack.</p> - -<p>We recall the terrific accession to the roar of battle -with which the enemy welcomed each brigade -before us as it left the cover of the cut, and with -which at last it welcomed us. We remember the -rush across that open field where, in ten minutes, -every tenth man was killed or wounded, and where -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">132</span> -Marshall Davis, carrying the flag, was, for those -minutes, the fastest traveller in the line; and the -Colonel wondering, calls to mind the fact that he -saw men in the midst of the severest fire, stoop -to pick the leaves of cabbages as they swept along.</p> - -<p>We remember how, coming up with the 62d Pennsylvania -of our brigade, their ammunition exhausted -and the men lying flat on the earth for protection, -our men, proudly disdaining cover, stood every man -erect and with steady file-firing kept the rebels down -behind the cover of their stone wall, and held the -position until nightfall. And it was a pleasant consequence -to this that the men of the gallant 62d, who -had before been almost foes, were ever after our fast -friends.</p> - -<p>Night closed upon a bloody field. A battle of -which there seems to have been no plan, had been -fought with no strategic result. The line of the -rebel infantry at the stone wall in our front was precisely -where it was in the morning. We were not -forty yards from it, shielded only by a slight roll of the -land from the fire of their riflemen, and so close to -their batteries on the higher land that the guns could -not be depressed to bear on us. At night our pickets -were within ten yards of the enemy.</p> - -<p>Here we passed the night, sleeping, if at all, in -the mud, and literally on our arms. Happily for all, -and especially for the wounded, the night was -warm. In the night our supply of ammunition was -replenished, and toward morning orders were received -not to recommence the action. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">133</span></p> - -<p>The next day, a bright and beautiful Sunday, -there was comparative quiet along the lines, but to -prevent the enemy from trees or houses or from vantage -spots of higher land bringing to bear upon our -line the rifles of their sharp-shooters, required constant -watchfulness and an almost constant dropping -fire from our side.</p> - -<p>Several attempts were made to communicate with -us from the town, but every such endeavor drew a -withering fire from the enemy. None of us could -stand erect without drawing a hail of rifle balls. A -single field-piece from the corner of two streets in -the city exchanged a few shots over our heads with -one of the batteries on the heights, but soon got the -worst of it and retired.</p> - -<p>Sergeant Spalding, in a printed description of this -day, says: “It was impossible for the men in our -brigade to obtain water without crossing the plain -below us, which was a hazardous thing to attempt -to do, as he who ventured was sure to draw the -enemy’s fire; nevertheless, it was not an uncommon -thing to see a comrade take a lot of canteens and -run the gauntlet.” Seldom were they hit, but in a -few instances we saw them fall, pierced by the rebel -bullet.</p> - -<p>“I remember seeing a soldier approaching us -from the city, with knapsack on his back and gun -on his shoulder. I watched him with special interest -as he advanced, knowing that he was liable to be -fired upon as soon as he came within range of the -enemy’s rifles. He came deliberately along, climbed -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">134</span> -over the fence, and was coming directly towards -where we lay, when crack went a rifle and down -went the man—killed, as we supposed, for he lay -perfectly still. But not so, he was only playing -possum. Doubtless he thought that by feigning to -be dead for a few moments he would escape the -notice of the enemy. So it proved, for unexpectedly -to us, and I doubt not to the man who shot him -(as he supposed), he sprang to his feet and reached -the cover of the hill before another shot was fired.”</p> - -<p>The day wore away and the night came again, -and we, relieved by other troops, returned to refresh -ourselves by sleeping on the wet sidewalks of one -of the city streets.</p> - -<p>The next day three lines of infantry were massed -in this street, which ran parallel to the river, but the -day passed without any renewal of the battle. It -was not pleasant, looking down the long street so full -of soldiers, to think what might happen if the rebel -guns, less than a thousand yards away, should open -on the town—but it was none of our business. As -it came on to storm at nightfall we took military -possession of a block of stores, and the men, for the -first time for many months, slept under the cover of -a roof. It was a fearfully windy night, and whether -it was the wind, or anxiety about the situation, the -Colonel could not sleep. His horses were kept in -the street conveniently at hand, and once or twice -he rode out to the front and heard Captain Martin -objurgating the General for his orders to entrench -his battery with one pick and one shovel. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">135</span></p> - -<p>About 3 A. M. came an orderly seeking the commander -of the brigade, whom nobody had seen for -the past two days. The Colonel was inclined to be -gruff until he learned that the orders were to move -the brigade back over the river; then, indeed, he -was sprightly. Declaring himself the ranking officer -of the brigade, he receipted for the order and, sending -his orders to the other regiments, began to retire -the brigade to the easterly bank, and thence ordered -the regiments to their old camps at Stoneman’s -Switch, where the real brigadier found them soon -after dawn.</p> - -<p>At 8 A. M. Burnside had withdrawn his entire -army and taken up his bridges. The storm was -over, but again the fog filled the low lands. As it -cleared away, some of us, from the piazza of the -Phillips House, saw the rebel skirmishers cautiously -creeping toward the town, and it was not long before -the shouts from their lines told that the evacuation -was discovered. In the battle of Fredericksburg -the 32d lost thirty-five killed and wounded. Among -the killed was Captain Charles A. Dearborn, Jr. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">136</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="IX">IX.<br /> - -<i>BETWEEN CAMPAIGNS.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">WITH the close of the year 1862, Colonel Parker -resigned the command, Lieutenant-Colonel -Prescott was promoted to the Colonelcy; Major -Stephenson was made Lieutenant Colonel, and -Captain Edmunds, Major.</p> - -<p>A vacancy occurred also in the medical staff, by -the resignation of Assistant Surgeon Bigelow, and -an elderly, but very respectable M. D. was gazetted -in his place. It happened that the new doctor -reported for duty on the eve of a movement of the -corps. He had no horse; said he had left his -trunk at “the depot,” meaning by the roadside, at -Stoneman’s Switch, and when told that he must -march with the Regiment next day he undertook to -hire a buggy. The young gentlemen of the Regiment -kept him floundering about for a good part of -the night in search of an imaginary livery stable, -and even sent him up to division headquarters to -borrow the General’s barouche. One day’s experience -was enough for him, and the next morning -he declined to be mustered in and went back—he -and his trunk—to the more congenial white settlements. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">137</span></p> - -<p>After the disastrous attempt upon the heights of -Fredericksburg, the Regiment had remained in -their old camping-ground near Stoneman’s Switch, -in the neighborhood of Falmouth. Excepting the -reconnoissance to Morrisville and skirmish there, -with that terrible march on the return when our -brigadier, Schweitzer, led his “greyhounds,” as he -termed them, at such a terrific pace for twenty-five -or thirty miles, nothing occurred to break the -monotony of camp life. The night of the 31st December, -1862—that of the march above alluded to—was -extremely cold, and the men, in light marching -order, without knapsacks or necessary blankets, -compelled to fall out from inability to keep the -pace, suffered terribly from exposure, and many -lost their lives in consequence.</p> - -<p>For two months, or since November 22d, 1862, -we had been comfortably encamped (including the -episodes of the battle of Fredericksburg, and the -march and skirmish of Morrisville above-mentioned) -near Stoneman’s Switch—two months! which seemed -so near an age, a cycle, or an eternity of time in -the Army of the Potomac in those days, that we had -prepared ourselves as if to remain forever. Our -tents were converted into comfortable huts, with -wide chimneys and wooden floors; we had tables -and camp-chairs and bedsteads and looking-glasses—all -rather rudely constructed, perhaps, but -to our minds luxurious to a degree unprecedented. -When, however, we got marching orders, every -man seemed to vie with his neighbor in displaying -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">138</span> -his contempt for all this effeminacy, and his readiness -to quit these “piping times of peace,” by -destroying all his possessions that savored of luxury, -and throwing away whatever could not be carried in -knapsack or saddle-pack.</p> - -<p>Adjutant Cobb was a sound sleeper. He did not -average to sleep so long, perhaps, as many others, -but he would owl over his work or his letters night -after night, and then, when the conditions were -favorable, would do such solid sleeping for one night -as would bring him out even. At such times it -seemed absolutely impossible to awaken him; no -quantity of shaking would make any impression, -and it was necessary to let him have it out.</p> - -<p>Somewhere about midnight, before January 21st, -an orderly came with a written order, found the -adjutant sleeping in his tent, and did his best to -waken him, but without effect. Finally he thrust the -order into Cobb’s hand, closed the fingers over it, -and went his way. Before daylight the adjutant was -wakened by the beating drums, and found the paper -in his hand. Rising, he struck a light, read the -paper and found that it was an order for the Regiment -to march at 3 A. M. It was then half-past -two, and an hour and a half is the shortest time in -which a command can get breakfast and make needful -preparations for the route.</p> - -<p>Matters were hurried up pretty lively, and inasmuch -as there was the usual delay in starting, the -Regiment managed to come to time.</p> - -<p>We did not move until four. Meantime the work -of destruction went on, even to making bonfires of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">139</span> -all comforts and luxuries in wood, around which -the men warmed themselves and laughed and -sung. Even tent-cloths and cast-off clothing were -destroyed. Nothing was to be left that would comfort -Johnny Reb. But even before we moved off, -some of us began to regret our comfortable home; -for a bitter cold north-east wind blew fiercely, and the -air was full of snow and sleet, which gradually -grew to rain. We moved at first pretty fast, and -then the pace grew slower, slower, slowest, with -frequent halts, until after dark, when we drew off -the road and bivouacked for the night. The rain -continued for some time, and it was exceedingly -chilly, and by no means an agreeable opportunity for -sleep. The men made fires among the trees, and -sat around them nearly all night. As morning rose -the wind changed, the rain ceased and when we -resumed our march at about eight o’clock the air -was soft, bland, and beautiful, like a day in April or -May. Heavy, lead-colored clouds, however, hung -low over everything, the air was thick with mist, -and vaporous masses of steam lay upon the fields -and woods. The snow had disappeared, and the -frost was coming out of the ground, and lay in pools -and puddles, and finally, in lakes and rivers of -water, over roads and low-lying fields in every direction. -Soon it began raining again, first a drizzle and -then a steady pour, and the thermometer rose and -rose and rose again, to fifty, seventy, and eighty -degrees, every object in the landscape began to -exhale steam. Men and horses and mules and -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">140</span> -wagons, every bush and blade of grass, gave it -forth in clouds and masses. There was a glow -everywhere as of early dawn, and a dank, earthy -smell pervaded the air. The wagons and trains, -and everything that went on wheels or by horse-flesh, -abandoned the roads and took to the fields. -Deeper grew the mud and deeper the water over -the mud. Still the moving masses of men pushed -on, jumping from hummock to stump, sinking -in up to the thighs and being dragged out half -drowned, struggling through dense thickets rather -than try the road, and everything and everybody -draggled and splashed and yellow with mud; there -had been something very much like this in the -march up the Peninsula under McClellan, in the -trenches and corduroys about Yorktown, and we did -not expect to give it up. But at last we came to a -dead standstill. We were in a narrow wood-road -and had passed several teams of a wagon train completely -mired, and apparently sinking deeper and -deeper, mules singing their peculiar lay with little -above the mud but their ears, when we were halted -where the road made a sudden turn and descent, and -for the present at least, all further progress was -impossible. Our entire day’s march was only three -miles.</p> - -<p>The narrow road appeared to be blocked, wagons -were upset apparently one upon another, while men -and horses were floundering about in most dire confusion. -In a very short time we made our way out -of this scene of disorder, and to the great relief of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">141</span> -all who progressed by horse-flesh, halted to wait a -more agreeable season. Then again did we regret -the comfortable quarters we had left.</p> - -<p>It was dreadful to think of camping where we were, -worse to undertake to go back again, or forward or -anywhere. The whole country in all directions -appeared to be under water. The trees stood up as -if in a vast bog or swamp. At the first step off from -a root or stump you sank so deep as to make you -catch your breath, and you were lucky if, in extracting -yourself, you did not leave behind both boots -and stockings. Virginia mud is a clay of reddish -color and sticky consistence, which does not appear -to soak water, or mingle with it, but simply to hold -it, becoming softer and softer, and parting with the -water wholly by evaporation. It was difficult to -stand; to sit or lie down, except in the sticky mud, -was impossible. Everything was so drenched with -water that it was difficult to make fires. The warm, -moist atmosphere imparted a feeling of weariness -and lassitude, and in short our condition was -disgusting. Wet through, stuck-in-the-mud, we -dragged out the night.</p> - -<p>The next day, January 23d, was bright, mild, and -beautiful, at least as far as sun and air went. A -gentle breeze began to dry up the ground, and the -whole brigade was set at work to corduroy roads. -The method pursued by our own men was peculiar. -They were marched across the field and brought -into single line before a Virginia fence. Every man -then pulled out a rail, shouldered it, and in single -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">142</span> -file the Regiment marched to the place to be corduroyed, -where each dropped his rail as he came up.</p> - -<p>The next day we returned to our camp at Stoneman’s -Switch, which looked on the whole about as -comfortable and home-like as the inside of a very -mouldy Stilton cheese. In an incredibly short space -of time however, everything resumed its accustomed -air of neatness and quasi-comfort. The next Sunday-morning -inspection showed not a trace of the -mud in which the Regiment with the rest of the -army had been nearly smothered.</p> - -<p>Youthful readers of Lovers’ romances are apt -to jump at the conclusion that “a soldier’s life is -always gay,” or at least that gaiety is its normal -condition. Youthful patriots in our war time -yearned for active service, and saw themselves in -dreams successfully storming forts, capturing batteries, -charging and driving rebel hordes. Always in -their dreams there was floating over them the flag -of their country, (a bright new one)—always drums -were beating and bands were playing; and, if the -dream was dreamed out to the end, the great transformation-scene -at the close, displayed the dreamer in -elegant uniform, crowned by the genius of victory, -while the people of the whole nation joined in -shouts of approbation.</p> - -<p>As they approached the field of glory the halo -faded, and often upon the field itself it was not at -all manifest to the eye. A disordered liver turned -the gold to green, and the arm which by the dream -was to have been waving a flashing sword in the front -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">143</span> -part of battle, was more frequently wielding a dull -axe in the woods, or a spade in the open ground. -Many thought that their patriotism had evaporated, -but it was only the romantic aureola that was gone.</p> - -<p>Among the first volunteers to join our Newton -Company was the Reverend William L. Gilman, a -minister of the Universalist denomination. To us -he was Corporal Gilman of Company K, doing his -duty as a non-commissioned officer quietly and -well. On the 10th of December, 1862, the Colonel -was in the dumps. He had been for two months -wrestling with the medical authorities of the corps, -and the medical authorities had near about killed -him. Upon the eve of a movement and a battle, -they refused permission to send our sick to hospital, -and ordered our surgeons to follow the movement. -More than twenty men were very sick in our hospital -tent, and the steward objected to the heavy load -which would fall to him if he were left alone in -charge.</p> - -<p>At this juncture appeared Corporal Gilman with -a sad countenance, and told how disappointed he -was to find that his services seemed to be of no -value, and to ask if some position could not be found -in which he might have the satisfaction of feeling -that he was of use to somebody. A brief consultation -with the Surgeon told the Colonel that the corporal -was in no state for marching or fighting, that -his despondency was the effect of a disordered liver, -and thereupon he was detailed to the military command -of the patients in hospital, and before the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">144</span> -regiment left he was fully instructed as to the duty -required of him. To Corporal Gilman’s activity -during the five days of our absence, is due a large -share of the credit of saving the lives of those -entrusted to his care. Shamefully neglected by the -division surgeon who promised to visit them, and -who even falsely said that he had visited them, -these sick men would have died of starvation but for -the unwearying devotion of their two non-commissioned -officers; and when the regiment returned, -Gilman himself was well, and had recovered that -cheeriness which was his natural temper, and which -never afterward deserted him, even when mangled -and dying on the field of Gettysburg.</p> - -<p>But after all there was some foundation for those -youthful views. There were men who could stand -up against their own livers, and there were times of -general jollity.</p> - -<p>Making a neighborly call at the headquarters of -an Irish regiment, our Adjutant found there quite a -number of officers, the greater number of them sitting -or reclining on the ground, which formed the -tent floor, among them Captain Hart, A. A. General -of the Irish Brigade.</p> - -<p>Of course the canteen was at once produced, and a -single glass which was to go the rounds with the canteen. -The whiskey was of the “ragged edge” variety, -from the commissary stores, and it required a stout -throat to drink it half-and-half with water; but -when our adjutant, to whom by reason of infirmity -of the lungs whiskey was like milk, filled the little -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">145</span> -glass with clear spirit and tossed it down his throat, -there was a murmur of admiring surprise which -found expression in Hart’s reverent look and in his -exclamation, “Oh, sir! you ought to belong to the -Irish Brigade, for it’s a beautiful swallow you have!”</p> - -<p>But the Irish had no monopoly of light-hearted -soldiers. Dana of “ours” was to the battalion what -Tupper says a babe is to the household—a well-spring -of joy. Full of healthy life and spirits, he -bubbled over with jokes and pranks and mirth, and -while no story of the 32d could be complete without -some stories of him, no one book could suffice to -contain them all.</p> - -<p>Sent out with a party to corduroy a road, he -announced himself at the farm house near by as -General Burnside, and demanded quarters, got them, -and fared sumptuously.</p> - -<p>Detailed as acting quartermaster he kept no -accounts, and how he settled with his department no -man knoweth to this day. The demand of the -ordnance department for property returns, although -frequently repeated, were quietly ignored, until the -chief wrote to him: “Having no replies to my -repeated demands for your accounts, I have this day -addressed a communication to the 2d Auditor of the -Treasury, requesting him to withhold farther payments -to you.” To which D. at once replied: -“Dear Sir,—Yours of the —th is received. What -did the 2d Auditor say?”</p> - -<p>A representative of the Christian Commission in -clerical dress and stove-pipe hat was distributing -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">146</span> -lemons to the bilious soldiers, but refused to give or -sell one to Dana, who thereupon proposed to arrest -him as a deserter from our army or a spy of the -enemy’s; and when the gentleman asserted that he -was enlisted only in “the army of the Lord”—“Well, -you’ve straggled a good ways from that,” -was the surly rejoinder.</p> - -<p>Sergeant Hyde of K Company was a Yankee -given to the invention of labor-saving contrivances, -and was not fond of walking two miles under a big -log, which was then the ordinary process of obtaining -fire-wood. He thought that he might get his -fuel with less labor, from the generous pile which -always flanked the surgeon’s tent. Getting one of -his comrades, in the darkness of night, to draw off -the attention of the headquarters’ negro servants, -Hyde secured a boss log and escaped with it to his -hut, and there, with the aid of a newly-issued -hatchet, proceeded to demolish his log beyond the -possibility of recognition.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately for Hyde, the sharp hatchet glanced -off the log and cut an ugly gash in his leg—a serious -wound, which made it necessary to call on the surgeon -and break his rest. The doctor was kind and -sympathizing beyond his wont, and very curious to -learn all about the accident, but to this day the sergeant -believes that if that doctor had known all the -particulars, the treatment might not have been so -gentle.</p> - -<p>Whenever the army was idle for a time, officers -were apt to be prolific in written communications, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">147</span> -recommendations, and endorsements, and these were -not always merely dry routine. The officer of the -guard who knew more about tactics than any -other learning, one day on his report wrote a -suggestion that “sum spaids and piks” be provided -for the use of the guard. This passing as usual -through the hands of the officer-of-the-day, who -knew more about books than tactics, he added over -his official signature, “approved all but the spelling.”</p> - -<p>A. Q. M. Hoyt having in a written communication -to the General of the division called attention -to the fact that the division quartermaster was using -an ambulance and horses for his own private occasions -in violation of an order of the War Department, -was by endorsement directed to “attend to his -own duty,” whereupon he sent the same paper to the -Adjutant General at Washington, with this additional -endorsement. “In compliance with the above -order of Gen. —— the attention of the War -Department is called to the case within described.” -The ambulance had to go.</p> - -<p>It was in one of these prolonged waiting seasons -that the assistant surgeon with great exertion at all -of the headquarters, secured a thirty days leave of -absence in order to be present at his own wedding. -Nothing now could make his face so long as it was -next morning at the mess breakfast, when an orderly -brought, and when the adjutant read aloud a general -order from headquarters, Army of the Potomac, -cancelling all officers’ leaves “pending the present -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">148</span> -operations of this army.” A premature chuckle -from one of the conspirators exposed the forgery -and lightened the doctor’s heart.</p> - -<p>It was not in every place and presence however, -that even a full surgeon could indulge his natural -bent for humorous relation, as indeed the chief of -our medical staff discovered, when, after convulsing -a Court Martial with a vivid description of a pig -hunt, where he came in at the death to find the prisoners -cutting up the pig, and the Adjutant General -of the division “presiding over the meeting,” he -found his reward in “plans and specifications,” upon -which he himself was tried for contempt of court, or -something to that effect.</p> - -<p>St. Patrick’s Day was always a day of great jollity, -for the religious children of that holy bishop -and his cherished isle are quick to break forth into -mirth and sport when opportunity is offered. The -festival of 1863, however, closed with a strange -accident and a sad tragedy.</p> - -<p>A course had been provided for horse racing, and -after the races laid down in the programme had -been run, a variety of scrub matches were made up -<i>extempore</i>. Unfortunately it happened that two of -these were under way at the same time and in opposite -directions, and at the height of their speed, -two horses came in collision so directly, and with -such a fearful shock as to cause the instant death of -both animals, the actual death of one, and the -apparent death of both the riders. He who escaped -at last, was the dear foe of our Quartermaster -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">149</span> -Hoyt, who, over the senseless body pronounced the -officer’s eulogy, and expressed his deep contrition -for all that he had ever said or done to offend the -sufferer, but with the reserved proviso that “if he -does get well this all goes for nothing.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">150</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="X">X.<br /> - -<i>CHANCELLORSVILLE.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">THE commencement of the year 1863 brought -the not unwelcome announcement to the Army -of the Potomac that General Burnside had been -relieved from the command, and General Hooker -appointed in his stead. The disastrous failure at -Fredericksburg, and the rather absurd attempt which -will be known in history as the “mud march,” -had not increased the confidence of the army in -Burnside’s ability, and it was with feelings of satisfaction -that the soldiers heard the order promulgated -which relieved him and appointed his successor. -Notwithstanding some grave defects in the character -and habits of General Hooker, as a soldier he had -enlisted the confidence and won the affections of -the men. The plucky qualities which had given to -him the name of “Fighting Joe,” seemed to be an -assurance of that activity and energy that were so -necessary to the successful ending of the contest, -while his kindly nature, and his genial, social temperament, -won the love and good wishes of all who -came in contact with him. In appearance, when in -command, he represented the dashing, chivalrous -soldier, of whom we had read in history and fiction, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">151</span> -inspiring confidence and awakening our enthusiasm. -As he rode along the line, while reviewing the 5th -Corps, mounted upon a snow-white steed, horse and -rider seemingly but one, erect in all the pride of -command, his hair nearly white, contrasting strongly -with his ruddy complexion, he looked the perfect -ideal of a dashing, gallant, brave commander. -We soon learned that his skill in organization fully -equalled his bravery upon the battle-field, and the -results were apparent in the improved discipline and -<i>morale</i> of the troops. To his administration must -be given the credit of the introduction of the corps -badges, which proved of great value in the succeeding -days of the war.</p> - -<p>It would be useless, tiresome perhaps, to describe -the regular routine performed by the 32d during -the days and weeks that succeeded. Suffice it to -say, that it consisted principally of picket and guard -duty, with details for road building, and the constant -drill and discipline so necessary to prepare the -soldier for the more severe labors of the march, and -the sterner duties of the battle-field. With the -warmer weather of the spring came orders which -told us that the campaign was soon to begin; baggage -must be forwarded to Washington, clothing -must be furnished, deficiencies in ordnance supplied; -these, together with orders for the return of men on -leave and detached service, informed the soldier as -clearly as if it had been promulgated in positive -terms, that active duties were to commence, that -a battle was soon to be fought. On the 8th of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">152</span> -April, President Lincoln reviewed the army, and -the sight of a hundred thousand men prepared for -review was indeed impressive. General Hooker was -excusable, perhaps, in speaking of his command at -this time as “the finest army on the planet.” It certainly -was never in better condition. On the 27th of -April we left our camp—the Regiment under the -command of Lieutenant-Colonel Stephenson—without -a thought that we should ever return to it again. -Starting at noon, we marched to Hartwood Church, -about eight miles, reaching it at nightfall; the next -morning, moving towards Kelley’s Ford on the Rappahannock, -near which we bivouacked for the night; -taking up the line of march at daybreak, we crossed -the Rappahannock on a pontoon bridge, coming to -Ely’s Ford on the Rapidan, late in the afternoon of the -29th. The water at this ford was quite deep, reaching -nearly to the armpits, and running rapidly. -Most of the men stripped themselves of their clothing -and waded through, holding their muskets, -knapsacks, and clothing above their heads, while -others dashed in without any preparation. Occasionally -a luckless wight would lose his footing in -the swift-running stream, and float down with the -current, to be caught by the cavalry men who were -stationed below for that purpose. Regiment after -regiment as they arrived, dashed through the waters, -and a more stirring scene can hardly be imagined. -All along the banks of the river were men by hundreds, -and thousands—on one side making preparation -for fording—on the other replacing their -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">153</span> -clothing and repairing damages, while the water was -crowded with soldiers who filled the air with shouts, -laughter, and song. As the darkness came on, the -numerous fires which the soldiers had made for the -purpose of drying their clothing, threw a strong -light over a picture of life and beauty, such as -can only be witnessed in the experience of army -life. That night we rested on the south side of the -Rapidan. The morning of the 30th of April found -us on the march, and in a few hours we struck that -region, which, but for the war, would scarcely have -been known outside of its own limits—now to be remembered -by generations yet to come, as the locality -where were fought some of the bloodiest battles -known in history—the Wilderness.</p> - -<p>Some description of the territory may not come -amiss to those who have grown up since the bloody -scenes of the war for the Union were enacted there. -It comprises a tract of land probably more than twenty -miles in circumference; a nearly unbroken expanse -of forest and thicket. A large portion is covered -with a dense growth of low, scrub oaks, briars, and -shrubs, with occasionally a spot where the trees -have attained to more lofty proportions. For miles -you can travel without a change, seeing only the -loathsome snake as it glides across your path, and -uncheered by the voices of the birds, for the songsters -of the day find no home in its thickets, only -the lonely night-bird inhabiting its gloomy depths. -Everything about it is wild and desolate. The sun -hardly penetrates through its gloom, and the traveller, -oppressed with its loneliness and desolation, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">154</span> -hurries through that he may reach the more genial -spots beyond, and feel the cheering rays of God’s -sunshine.</p> - -<p>Near one border of this region, at the junction of -roads that lead from Fredericksburg and United -States Ford, is Chancellorsville; not a town, not a -village, but simply a tract of cleared land surrounding -one brick house, said to have been erected for a -private residence, but used at the commencement of -the war as a roadside tavern. Through the forest -we marched to Chancellorsville, near which we -bivouacked for the night.</p> - -<p>May 1st, 1863, our Regiment led the division -which marched not south-east in the direction of the -plank road, but by a road which led east and northeast, -in the direction of Bank’s Ford. Artillery -and picket firing had been heard for some time, but -we were in thick woods. Covered by flankers and -skirmishers we moved on sometimes very rapidly, -until within less than four miles of Fredericksburg. -The day was fine and with the exception of some -cavalry pickets, we saw no enemy, but there was -a sound of heavy firing on our right in the direction -of the plank road, and as we advanced it seemed -to become more distant and almost exactly in our -rear.</p> - -<p>By the excitement apparent among General -Griffin’s staff it was evident that things were not -going right, and at last the order was given to face -about, and we took the back track at a killing pace. -As we neared Chancellorsville again, there was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">155</span> -some pretty sharp artillery and infantry skirmishing -going on just ahead, and as night drew on we were -halted in the road in line of battle facing south, -with skirmishers in front.</p> - -<p>It seems that the regular division of our corps -had been roughly handled and driven back, thus -separating us from the army, and we were kept -all that night marching and counter-marching about -the country. It was a bright moonlight night, but -dusky in the woods. There were long waits, but -not enough for sleep, and it was long after daylight -when we got out of the forest and came upon the -3d division of our corps, and found ourselves welcomed -as men who had been lost but were found.</p> - -<p>On the morning of May 2d we were posted on the -extreme left of the army and ordered to build breastworks. -The axe and the spade were soon busily at -work, and before night a formidable barrier had -been erected against any attack. About sunset there -was some slight skirmishing, and the men stood in -line awaiting an attack, but none came. All was -still as night; not a sound was heard except the low -murmuring of voices. Even the dropping fire of -the pickets had ceased, when suddenly on our right -there burst on the air the sound of a volley of -musketry accompanied by the wild rebel yell that -was so familiar to the soldier of the Union. From -the first it seemed to come towards us like a torrent, -constant and resistless. The men stood, musket in -hand, peering into the gloom, every nerve strung, -ready to meet the attack, but it did not reach us, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">156</span> -and ceased suddenly at last. This was the famous -flank attack by Stonewall Jackson upon the 11th -Corps under General Howard, which was ended -thus abruptly by the death of the rebel commander. -On the morning of the 3d we relieved and changed -positions with the 11th Corps. Our new position -was just at the right of Chancellorsville house, by -the side of the road; before us a cleared plain probably -two hundred yards wide, beyond which was a -forest. Again we were ordered to throw up earthworks, -and the men were busily at work all day. -Our brigade was formed in two lines, the 32d being -a part of the front line, where it remained until the -army fell back.</p> - -<p>About noon on the 4th our brigade received orders -to advance across the plain into the woods. That -morning a fire had swept through the woods, burning -the accumulated leaves, the deposit of years, -and in addition to the heat of the day, we suffered -from the hot ashes that arose under our footsteps in -clouds.</p> - -<p>The purpose of this advance was to feel out the -enemy and draw his fire, but not to bring on an -engagement, the object being to ascertain whether -he was still in force on our front. The movement -was executed in gallant style. The enemy -received us with a hot fire of musketry and -artillery, the greater portion of which fortunately -went over our heads. We were at once ordered -to retire and did so, under a tremendous shower of -shot and shell, nearly all of which passed above us. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">157</span></p> - -<p>We remember with pride the precision with which -the brigade returned across the field, as coolly as if -passing in review, rather than under the fire of -the enemy, a movement which elicited the hearty -cheers of the division. The most excited individual -was a non-commissioned officer who, being lightly -hit by a piece of shell as we entered our earthworks, -maddened by the stinging pain, turned and -shook his fist at the invisible foe, abusing him -most lustily, amidst the laughter of his companions. -Our advance demonstrated that the enemy was still -there, and in a short time they made their appearance -in masses issuing from the edge of the wood, -but they were received with a fire of artillery that -sent them reeling back to their defences, leaving -great numbers of dead and wounded on the field.</p> - -<p>The morning of the 5th came in with a cold, -heavy rain, making our position that day anything -but pleasant, but we did not move. As soon as -darkness came on, the batteries began to withdraw, -then we could hear the tramp of regiment after regiment -as they moved away, and we soon learned that -the army was retiring across the Rappahannock. -Still no orders came for us, and we began to realize -that again our division was to cover the retreat, and -be the last withdrawn. The ground was soaked with -water, we could neither sit nor lie down, but crouching -under the little shelter tents, which afforded -some protection from the drenching rain, we waited -for our turn to come.</p> - -<p>It was nearly morning when we started, and -sunrise when, after wading through mud and water -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">158</span> -often knee deep, we reached United States Ford. -The engineers were in position there ready to take -up the pontoons. Striking swiftly across the country, -hungry, tired, and disheartened, we re-occupied -before noon our old quarters at Stoneman’s and -the grand movement of General Hooker upon Richmond -was ended. The loss of the 32d was only -one killed and four wounded. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">159</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XI">XI.<br /> - -<i>FREDERICKSBURG TO GETTYSBURG.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">AFTER the battle of Chancellorsville the whole -army retired to its old position about Stafford -Court House and Falmouth, on the Rappahannock, -opposite the City of Fredericksburg. The 32d -Massachusetts was detailed to guard duty along the -railroad from Acquia Creek; half of the command -under Lieutenant-Colonel Stephenson being posted -at or near the redoubts on Potomac Creek, guarding -the bridge; the remainder, or right wing, under -Colonel Prescott, posted south of Stoneman’s Switch.</p> - -<p>On Thursday afternoon, May 29th, orders were -received to break camp and move to Barnett’s Ford. -The left wing moved promptly, but the right wing, -owing to the temporary absence of Colonel Prescott, -did not march until after nightfall. A bright full -moon and cool breeze made marching delightful. -The way was familiar, the roads fine, and the men, -in the best of spirits, laughed and sung as they -went. At about midnight this hilarity had subsided, -and the little column was jogging sleepily along the -way, which wound through a deep wood in the -vicinity of Hartwood Church. Suddenly, at a sharp -turn of the road, where the moonlight fell bright as -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">160</span> -day, came a stern call “Halt! who goes there?” -and a dozen horsemen, springing from the shadow, -stood barring the way, bringing forward their carbines -with a threatening click as they appeared. -The column, however, not halting, pressed forward -into the light, showing the glittering muskets of -the men and something of their number. The -horsemen seemed to suddenly abandon their purpose, -for, without a word of parley, they turned -their horses into the woods and slipped past us -under cover of the darkness. We recognized them, -when too late, as a band of guerillas, and learned -more concerning them at the first picket post we -met.</p> - -<p>During our stay at the fords of the Rappahannock, -guerillas harassed us in various ways, hovering -around us, indeed, until we neared the border of -Maryland. Now a portion of our wagon train -would be run off, and an officer would be spirited -away when on outpost duty or riding from one -camp to another. Again and again the mail was -stopped and rifled, the carrier shot or captured. -Indeed, these things became of so frequent occurrence -that stringent orders came from headquarters -forbidding officers or men straying beyond the limits -of their camp guards. Many were the sensational -rumors concerning the guerillas and their Chief -Mosby. One of our cavalry officers used to say that -he never could catch a guerilla, but after a long -chase occasionally found a man wearing spurs, engaged -in digging a well. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">161</span></p> - -<p>At Hartwood Church the two wings of the Regiment -were again united, and moved on the following -day past Barnett’s to Kemper’s Ford. Mrs. Kemper -and her daughter were the only inmates of their -mansion, Mr. Kemper being “away,” which meant -in the rebel army, and of the swarms of servants -which no doubt once made the quarters lively, there -remained only two or three small girls and an idiot -man.</p> - -<p>Our stay here was one of the bright spots of army -experience. The location was delightful and the -duty light. We had a detail on guard at the ford -and pickets along the river bank; opposite to us on -the other shore, and within talking distance, were -the rebel pickets, but no shots were exchanged, and -all was peaceful and quiet.</p> - -<p>We had extended to the family such protection as -common courtesy demanded, and when we were -about to leave, a few of the officers called to say -good-bye, and found the ladies distressed and in -tears on account of our departure, or the dread of -what might come afterwards. They told us that -ours was the first Massachusetts regiment that had -been stationed there; that they had been taught to -believe that Massachusetts men were vile and wicked; -“but,” said one of them, “we have received from no -other soldiers such unvarying courtesy and consideration; -we have discovered our mistake, and shall -know how to defend them from such aspersions in -the future.” Promising in reply to their urgency -that, if taken prisoners and if possible, we would -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">162</span> -communicate with them, we took our leave, with the -impression that it was well to treat even our enemies -with kindness.</p> - -<p>On the 9th of June occurred the engagement at -Brandy Station, said at that time to be the greatest -cavalry fight of the war, and the Regiment crossed -the river and covered the approaches to the ford -while the battle was in progress. They moved out -about three miles in the direction of Culpepper Court -House, but encountered no enemy, except a few -straggling cavalry men, who fled at their approach.</p> - -<p>Now the Regiment was kept continually on the <i>qui -vive</i>, under orders to move at a minute’s notice, and -be prepared for long and rapid marches.</p> - -<p>Suddenly the enemy withdrew all his pickets from -the river, and on the 13th of June we moved in the -middle of the night, which was very dark, in the -direction of Morrisville, and on the following night -we reached Catlett’s, our division bringing up the -rear of the army and guarding the wagon train. -The weather had now become very summerlike, -and the days were hot and sultry, and the roads -heavy with dust. Again we were moving through -that detestable Manassas country, that debatable -land, now almost a desert; the soil uncultivated, -trodden to powder, the fields overgrown with weeds, -an arid waste where no water was and no food -could be obtained, the breeze stifling one with the -pungent odor of penny-royal, which pervaded -everything.</p> - -<p>June 16th we encamped near Manassas, on the -Thoroughfare Gap road, and on the following day -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">163</span> -made an ever-memorable march of eighteen or -twenty miles, under a tropical sun, with a stifling -air filled with dust, without a drop of water anywhere, -and the men of all ranks and commands -falling down by the roadside and dying of heat-stroke -and exhaustion. The 32d made the best -record of any regiment in the division on this day, -encamping at Gum Spring at night with fuller -ranks than any other. We set out with 230 men -and came in with 107 in the ranks, and even this -poor showing was far ahead of most regiments composing -the division. Four soldiers of the division -died from sunstroke on this dreadful march. Firing -was heard all day from the direction of Aldie, and -we were urged forward as rapidly as possible.</p> - -<p>On the 19th we moved to Aldie Gap, with the -whole of the 5th Corps, passing many fine places -upon the broad Winchester turnpike. An artillery -skirmish was going on as we neared the Gap at sunset, -and we deployed across the broad fields under -the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains in fine style, -bands playing, bugles sounding, etc. At 2 A. M. -on the morning of the 21st the men were awaked, -three days rations issued, and we were soon in -motion up the Gap. As morning broke we defiled -past Aldie, and on the way down the mountain side -were passed by thousands of cavalry, under command -of Generals Pleasanton, Gregg, and Kilpatrick.</p> - -<p>During that day and the next we had a glorious -opportunity to witness one of the great cavalry skirmishes -of the Army of the Potomac, the enemy’s -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">164</span> -cavalry consisting of Fitz Hugh Lee’s brigade -led by Rousseau, and Stuart’s cavalry led by Stuart -himself. We withdrew on the 22d and passed that -night near Aldie on the side of the hills, looking -down into the valley, and across to Ashby’s Gap. -Many are the tales since told of what we saw and -did during those two days of cavalry and infantry -fighting. On the 21st the Regiment led the infantry -advance, and on the return was at the rear of the -column, and covered the cavalry retreat.</p> - -<p>June 26th orders came to move at 3 A. M., and -from that time we marched rapidly forward across -the state of Maryland, and until we reached the -Pennsylvania line.</p> - -<p>Early on the afternoon of July 1st, 1863, after -a march of about ten miles, the 32d reached -Hanover, Pennsylvania, and as we filed into a -cleared level piece of grass-land, we congratulated -ourselves upon the prospect of a long rest and a -refreshing sleep after the tedious marches and -broken slumbers of the previous sixteen days. The -men went cheerily to work preparing food, the great -difficulty being lack of fuel, for we were in a friendly -country, and the usual destruction of fences and -trees was forbidden. But we were soon to find ourselves -disappointed in our expectations; for, at 8 -o’clock, orders came to move, and the men discontentedly -packed their knapsacks, giving up all idea -of rest so much needed and desired. As we -marched toward Gettysburg, we heard in advance -the sound of cheering, and soon word came down -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">165</span> -the line that General McClellan was again in command -of the army. As the news passed along, -regiment after regiment sent up cheers, and the -soldiers moved with quickened step and joyful -hearts. Where this report originated we never -knew, yet many went into the battle the next day -thinking they were under the command of the general, -who, above all others, had won the love and -confidence of the Army of the Potomac. Very -soon, orders came for the musicians to give the -time for the march, and we stepped off quickly to -the beat of the drum. This was one of the very -few occasions on which we used our music while on -the march during the entire service of the Regiment. -Our musicians were used, as a general rule, only in -camp to sound the various calls that marked the -routine of camp duty, and at guard-mountings and -parades, and on this occasion we were allowed but -a few minutes to enjoy the luxury of marching to the -beat of the drum, for it was stopped by orders from -an authority higher than our division general, on -account of the danger of giving information of our -whereabouts to the enemy.</p> - -<p>We marched nearly ten miles more that night, -and at midnight bivouacked two miles distant from -the spot that was to be the field of the battle of Gettysburg. -Very early in the morning, as soon as -daylight appeared, we moved on to the vicinity of -Round Top and formed in line of battle. Here the -32d was detailed to form a skirmish line, to protect -the extreme flank of the army. Colonel Prescott, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">166</span> -however, requested that the Regiment be excused -from this duty, for the reason that it had had no -experience, and but little instruction in skirmishing. -The 9th Massachusetts was substituted, fortunately -for them, and unfortunately for us, for as matters -turned out, they were not engaged, and did not lose -a single man during the fight of that day.</p> - -<p>We remained inactive for a number of hours, the -men providing themselves with food, and seeking -the rest so much required. Officers and men laid -down under the shelter of a ledge, and entirely -oblivious to the roaring of the cannon and the -bursting shell that passed over our heads, slept the -sleep of the weary. It was the last sleep on earth -to some of our number; to others a blessed boon, -enabling them to endure the exhaustion and pain -occasioned by wounds received at a later hour. It -was nearly 3 o’clock in the afternoon before our -repose was disturbed by orders to move forward.</p> - -<p>Following the general design of these pages, -to relate only the story of our own Regiment and -what occurred in its presence, to paint only the pictures -that we saw, there are yet necessary, concerning -the battle of Gettysburg, a few words of more -general description.</p> - -<p>There had been several days of occasional contact -between the hostile armies; each was concentrating -its scattered corps, and meanwhile manœuvring to -secure a favorable position for the inevitable battle. -On the 1st of July the fighting had been heavy, and -when we joined, the forces on each side were arrayed -for a decisive contest. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">167</span></p> - -<p>Seminary Ridge, which was occupied by the -Confederates, and Cemetery Ridge, which was -selected for the Federal position, may be called -parallel ranges of highlands. Between the two the -country is not a mere valley sloping from the ridges -to a common centre, but it is broken by knolls and -swells of land which, like the ridges, are lower to -the northward (our right) and more rough and -broken toward the south.</p> - -<p>General Sickles, with the 3d Corps, had, upon his -own responsibility, advanced his line so that it occupied, -not Cemetery Ridge, as General Meade had -intended, but the broken swells of land lying -between the ridges; and this advance of the left -corps of Meade’s lines, forming a salient angle, -led to its being selected for the main attack by Lee.</p> - -<p>The line of the Union army was irregularly -curved, the right bending sharply back and resting -on Rock Creek, and the left bowed slightly to the -rear.</p> - -<p>Between the positions here and at Antietam, there -were many points of likeness, but the relative situation -of the combatants was reversed. This time it -was Lee’s army that attacked, while to us fell the -advantage of the defensive attitude and of the -interior lines, by which reinforcements could speedily -be moved from left to right or right to left, as the -pressure of emergencies required.</p> - -<p>As has already been stated, the 5th Corps was -held in reserve during the early part of the 2d of -July, and its position was such that by reason of the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">168</span> -irregularities of the ground and the frequent patches -of woodlands, we could see but little of our own -lines, and of the enemy’s nothing except the smoke -of his batteries on Seminary Ridge.</p> - -<p>The attack of Longstreet’s corps, although bravely -resisted, was too much for Sickles, in his unfortunate -position, to withstand, and the immediate cause -of our orders to move forward was the break made -by the enemy in the lines of his corps. Our line of -battle was hastily formed on the westerly slope of a -hill, at the foot of which was the bed of a small -stream then almost dry.</p> - -<p>The division line was, because of the broken -character of the hillside, exceedingly irregular, and -walls and ledges were made useful for defence.</p> - -<p>We were hardly established in our position, such -as it was, before the attack came, the enemy piling -down in great numbers from the opposite slope and -covering themselves partially under the hither bank -of the little stream. They were received by a galling -fire from the division and driven back from our -immediate front with great loss into the wood from -whence they came. The men loaded and fired -with great rapidity, some using much judgment -and coolness, making every shot tell in the enemy’s -ranks; others, as is usually the case, excited and -firing almost at random.</p> - -<p>It was during this part of the fight that Lieutenant -Barrows, an officer esteemed by all, was instantly -killed. And here too, before the enemy was -repulsed, many of our men were killed or wounded. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">169</span> -Further to the right the Union soldiers were not so -successful, and another break in our lines from the -enemy’s charges compelled the command to fall -back, which we did in splendid order, carrying with -us our dead and wounded. Moving to the rear and -left of its first position, the brigade formed in a piece -of woods bordering upon the wheat-field, which is -pointed out to visitors as the spot where were -enacted some of the bloodiest scenes in the battle of -Gettysburg. This field was surrounded by a stone -wall, and when we first saw it, was covered with -waving grain. Forming in line of battle our -brigade advanced across this field, taking position -in rear of the stone wall facing the enemy’s lines. -On the right was the 4th Michigan, the 62d Pennsylvania -holding the centre, with the 32d Massachusetts -on the left. The right of the 4th Michigan -rested near a wood or clumps of thick bushes where -it should have connected with the left of the 1st -Brigade, but by some mistake, either on the part of -the general commanding the division, or the officer -in command of the 1st Brigade, that body did not -advance as far as the 2d, but halted, leaving a large -gap in the line of the division. Between the two -brigades was also a steep ravine leading up from -the “Devil’s Den,” a deep hollow in our front.</p> - -<p>We were hardly in position here before the -attack came again, and the battle waxed hot and -furious. We had been engaged but a short time -when Colonel Prescott, supported by two men, went -to the Lieutenant Colonel and turned over to him the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">170</span> -command of the Regiment, declaring that he was -wounded, and must leave the field. The men -received the fire of the enemy with great coolness, -and returned it with spirit and success. During all -this time we had seen nothing of our brigade commander -(Colonel Sweitzer), and Lieutenant Colonel -Hull, of the 62d Pennsylvania, while in search of -him, informed Colonel Stephenson of the want of connection -with our troops on the right, urging that something -should be done at once or we should be flanked -there. Upon the suggestion that Colonel Jeffers, -of the 4th Michigan, should change front and meet -the threatened danger, he hastened to communicate -with that officer, but before the movement could be -made, the blow came. The enemy moving quietly -up the ravine charged directly upon the flank of the -4th Michigan, curling it and the 62d Pennsylvania -up like a worm at the touch of fire, and throwing -them into the greatest confusion. Taking the order -from an aide-de-camp of the brigade commander, -who is always supposed to have authority to give -such commands, the 32d was falling back in good -order, when, for the first time, we saw our brigadier, -who, rushing from the woods, rode before the lines, -ordering the 32d to halt, demanding, with an oath, -to know why the Regiment was retreating. Indignantly -replying that the Regiment was falling back -under orders from his staff officer, the Lieutenant -Colonel ordered the men to face about and stand -their ground. It was a fatal mistake, and one which -caused the loss of many brave men. For a few -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">171</span> -minutes we stood; the enemy on our front, right -flank, and nearly in our rear, pouring in a terrible -fire, which the men returned almost with desperation, -until we were again ordered to fall back, which -we did, fighting our way inch by inch, rebels and -Union men inextricably mingled, until we reached -the shelter of the woods.</p> - -<p>Just at this moment Colonel Stephenson fell, shot -through the face, and Colonel Prescott who appears -not to have been wounded at all, soon after again -took the command.</p> - -<p>The Pennsylvania reserves were forming for a -charge. With a shout and a yell they fell upon the -now disorganized ranks of the enemy and drove -them like a flock of sheep for a long distance, almost -without opposition. The 32d reformed and advanced -again to the stonewall where they remained undisturbed, -for their part in the battle of Gettysburg was -ended.</p> - -<p>The whole of this terrible fight was fraught -with incidents, some grave and touching, and some -even humorous. One gallant officer having discharged -the contents of his pistol at the foe, at last -threw the pistol itself at the head of a rebel. -Another, wounded and faint sat down behind a large -boulder. Two rebel soldiers tried to take him prisoner; -then commenced a race around the rock; all ran -the same way and he managed to elude them and -escape. Probably not a soldier could be found who -could not tell some curious incident which came to his -knowledge during this fight. It was nearly sundown -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">172</span> -before the battle was ended for the day. We must -have been engaged three hours, yet so great was -the excitement and so little did we mark the passing -minutes that it seemed to have occupied less time -than has been taken to tell the story. The 32d -carried two hundred and twenty seven men into the -action and lost eighty one in killed, wounded, and -missing, among whom was Lieutenant Barrows killed, -and Colonel Stephenson, Captains Dana, Taft, Lieutenants -Steele, Lauriat, and Bowers, wounded. -The 4th Michigan and 62d Pennsylvania, besides -their killed and wounded, lost nearly one hundred -men prisoners, and also lost their colors. Colonel -Jeffers of the 4th Michigan, probably the only man -who was killed by the bayonet during the battle -of Gettysburg, died in defence of his flag.</p> - -<p>The frantic assault by General Lee on the 3d of -July, fell entirely upon the right and center of the -Union army, and the left was not attacked.</p> - -<p>Colonel Stephenson gives this vivid description of -his experience, one of those sad ones that attend a -soldier’s life among the wounded in the rear.</p> - -<p>“On the 3d of July the wounded of the 5th corps -were taken from the barns and other buildings in the -immediate vicinity of the battle field, where they -had been placed during the progress of the fight, to -a large grove about two miles distant.</p> - -<p>The trains containing hospital supplies and tents -had not arrived, and the wounded were placed -under little shelter-tents, such as the soldiers carried -with them upon the march. We lay on the bare -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">173</span> -ground without even straw for our beds, and he who -obtained a knapsack for a pillow deemed himself -fortunate.</p> - -<p>Just at night the attendants brought to the place -where I was lying, a young soldier of the 32d and -laid him beside me. It was Charles Ward of Newton. -I remembered him well as one of the youngest -of the Regiment, one whose purity of character, -and attention to duty had won the esteem and love -of all who knew him. The attendants placed him -in the tent, furnished us with canteens of water, and -left us for the night, for alas, there were thousands -of wounded men to be cared for, and but little time -could be spared for any one. My young companion -had been wounded by a ball passing through -his lungs, and it was with difficulty he could breathe -while lying down. To relieve him, I laid flat on -my back, putting up my knees, against which he -leaned in a sitting posture. All night long we -remained in this position, and a painful weary night -it was. At intervals we would catch a few moments -of sleep; then waking, wet our wounds with water -from the canteens, try to converse, and then again -to sleep. So we wore away the night, longing for -the light to come.</p> - -<p>No one came near us; we heard far away the dropping -fire of musketry on the picket lines, the occasional -booming of the cannon, and the groans wrung -from the lips of hundreds of wounded men around -us. My young friend knew that he must die; never -again to hear the familiar voices of home, never to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">174</span> -feel a mother’s kiss, away from brothers, sisters, -and friends; yet as we talked he told me that he did -not for a moment regret the course he had taken -in enlisting in the war of the Union, but that he was -ready, willing to die, contented in the thought that -his life was given in the performance of his duty to -his country.” -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">175</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XII">XII.<br /> - -<i>AFTER GETTYSBURG.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">THE day succeeding the battle, we left Gettysburg -in pursuit of the defeated enemy, followed -closely by the 6th Corps, by way of -Emmetsburg, Adamsville, and Middletown to Williamsport. -Much of this time it rained heavily and -the roads were bad, but we had the good spirits -which attend success, and were cheery, as became -victors. Near Williamsport we encountered the -enemy, and on the 11th and 12th of July pressed -him back toward the river, but he succeeded in -crossing the Potomac without further serious loss.</p> - -<p>Perhaps the finest thing that the army ever saw -was the movement forward in line of battle near -Williamsport and Hagerstown. As far as the eye -could reach on either hand were broad open fields -of grain with here and there little woods, the ground -being undulating but not broken, and we were -formed in close column of division by brigade, the -3d Corps touching our left and the 6th Corps our -right; and so we advanced across the wide, yellow -fields in two dense lines which extended apparently -to the horizon. This movement was continued -on two successive days. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">176</span></p> - -<p>Then we tried a flank movement by our left, -crossed the Potomac on the 17th, near Berlin, and -keeping east of the Blue Ridge, were at Manassas -Gap on the 23d, and stood spectators of some pretty -fighting done by the 3d Corps, who secured possession -of the pass. On the 26th we were at Warrenton, -and remained there until August 8th, when we -moved to Beverly Ford, and encamped there for five -weeks.</p> - -<p>Sergeant Spalding, in a letter home, describes our -camp there as the cosiest he ever saw: “Our camp is -in a forest of young pines, planted since our arrival. It -looks beautifully, especially in the evening. I went -out a little way from our camp last evening to take -a bird’s-eye view of it. How cosy it looked with -the lights from our tallow candles glimmering -through the trees from nearly every tent, which -seemed almost buried in the green foliage that surrounded -it. Our camp is laid out in streets, one for -each company. At the head of each street is the -captain’s tent, which is surrounded by an artificial -evergreen hedge with an arched entrance, with some -device in evergreen wrought into or suspended from -the arch—as, for instance, Company K has a Maltese -Cross (our corps badge). Company I, of -Charlestown, has the Bunker Hill Monument. -Company D, of Gloucester (fishermen), has an -anchor, &c., &c. But our tented cities, be they -ever so comfortable and attractive, are short-lived. -We build them up to-day and pull them down -to-morrow. We may be quietly enjoying our -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">177</span> -quarters to-day, and to-morrow be twenty-five miles -away. Such is a soldier’s life.”</p> - -<p>On the 12th October, 1862, General Porter ordered -our Colonel to detail one company for detached -service as guard to the reserve artillery of the army, -and Company C (Captain Fuller) was detailed. -When the detail was made it was supposed that it -would be only for a few weeks, but they did their -duty so acceptably as to result in being separated -from the Regiment for more than ten months.</p> - -<p>It was their duty to accompany the trains of the -artillery reserve on the march, the men being distributed -along the whole column and on each side -of it, and they furnished the sentinels about the -ammunition and supply trains, when parked for the -night.</p> - -<p>The duty was not very severe, and their position -was one of comparative independence. It was pleasant -to hear that a company of ours received praises -alike from every commander of the reserve, and -from the families of the Virginia farmers whose -premises they had occasion to occupy. Their route -was the general route of the army, and at Gettysburg -they were under sharp fire on the 3d of July, -when Lee made his last assault, but the total of their -casualties, while absent from the Regiment, was small.</p> - -<p>They brought back many recollections of pleasant -camps and stirring scenes, and the story of their -experiences brought a welcome freshness to the -gossip of the battalion. They rejoined the Regiment -near Beverly Ford, August 24th, 1863. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">178</span></p> - -<p>While we were encamped at Beverly Ford five -deserters were tried, convicted, and sentenced to be -shot, and the sentence was executed near our camp -in the presence of the corps, massed on a hillside -facing the place of execution. No more solemn -scene was witnessed in the army than the march of -those five men from the barn in which they had -been confined to the graves in which they were to -lie. They were dressed alike, in white shirts, trousers, -shoes and stockings, and caps. The order of -procession was as follows: First, the band, playing -the death march, then four soldiers bearing an -empty coffin, which was followed by the prisoner -who was soon to occupy it, guarded by four soldiers, -two in front with reversed arms, and two behind -with trailed arms. Then another coffin and another -prisoner, borne and guarded as described above, -and so the five doomed men marched across the field -to their graves, where each, seated upon his coffin, -was to pay the penalty of desertion by death. -Although at first they marched with firm and steady -step, yet they staggered ere they reached the spot -where they were to face death at the hands of comrades. -Eighty men selected from the provost guard -were there in line, posted to fire the fatal volley. -When all was ready, the men having been placed -in position and blindfolded, the officer in command -of the guard, without a word, but by the motion of -his sword, indicated the ready—aim—fire, and -instantly every gun (forty loaded with blank and -forty with ball cartridge) was discharged and all -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">179</span> -was over. Silently we viewed the solemn spectacle, -and as silently returned to camp—not with cheerful -martial airs, as when a faithful soldier, having met -a soldier’s death, is left to his last repose, but -with the sad ceremony uneffaced, and all deeply -impressed with the ignominy of such an end.</p> - -<p>On the 15th of September we broke up this pretty -camp and moved along to Culpepper, with some -lively skirmishing, and then rested for another -month with some picket duty but no warring.</p> - -<p>A French Canadian who left without permission -on our march to Gettysburg, and took to bounty-jumping -for a living, was detected, returned to us, -and at this camp was tried, sentenced, and punished -for his offences in the presence of the entire -brigade.</p> - -<p>In the middle of a square formed by the troops -who had been his fellows, one half of his head -was shaven close, and his shoulder was branded -with a letter D. The square was then deployed—the -line formed with open ranks, the front rank faced -to the rear, and the poor wretch, under guard, was -marched down the path thus lined with on-looking -soldiers, the musicians leading the way playing the -Rogue’s March, and then he was sent from the lines -as not worthy to associate with an honest soldiery.<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">2</a></p> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">2</a> -The scoundrel’s own description of the proceedings was: -“they shave my head—they burn my back—they march me in -review.”</p></div> - -<p>Here, too, we received a reinforcement of 180 -drafted men, who were assigned to the different -companies, and of whom we made good soldiers. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">180</span></p> - -<p>Between the 10th of October and the 29th of -November the Army of the Potomac and the -Army of Virginia were waltzing about the country -between Culpepper and Fairfax. Frequently it -was “forward and back,” sometimes “forward all,” -and occasionally “back to back.” Generals Meade -and Lee called the figures, and we danced to the -music of artillery and rifles. There was in fact no -fun in all this; the campaigning was severe, and -some of the engagements were marked by sharp -fighting, but the campaign was mainly one of -manœuvres.</p> - -<p>Sunday morning, November 29th, found our corps -in position, in the centre of the line of battle at -Mine Run, with orders to be ready to charge the -enemy’s works at a given hour, when a signal gun -was to be fired. There the two great armies of -Virginia were brought face to face, each occupying -a strong natural position, about a mile apart, with a -deep valley between, through which passed a small -stream called Mine Run.</p> - -<p>We have said that each army occupied a strong -natural position. The Confederate army however, -had us at a great disadvantage. They knew it and -expressed it by acts which spoke louder than words—coming -out from behind their works by hundreds -in the open field, seemingly to challenge us to -charge across the valley, which they knew—and so -did we—would be to many of our number the valley -of death. For we had to charge down the hill -across the Run and up the opposite slope, in the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">181</span> -face of a hundred guns, planted so as to sweep the -field with grape and canister the moment we came -within range, and thousands of muskets in the hands -of the enemy, who were evidently not only ready, -but anxious to see us storm their position, that they -might mow us down like grass.</p> - -<p>Before taking our place in the line we were -ordered to remove our knapsacks and all needless -baggage that might interfere with our movements -when the charge was ordered. That was the time -that tried our nerves. The field was before us. The -obstacles to be met and overcome we could see, and -with our past experience it was evident to all that -the contemplated movement if executed must involve -a fearful sacrifice of life on our side. For hours -we watched, and waited in suspense the signal that -was to open the conflict, and the relief we experienced -when the order to charge was countermanded, -can better be imagined than described.</p> - -<p>At dark we retired a little way from our position -in the line of battle, built our camp fires, -cooked our supper, and laid down to rest. About -midnight we were aroused, and falling into line -moved to the right about a mile, where our corps -joined the 6th corps which occupied a position in -the woods, and there we formed in line of battle. -The following day will long be remembered by us -on account of our bitter conflict with Jack Frost -instead of Johnnie Reb. The day was extremely -cold, freezing the water in our canteens, and -although in danger of freezing ourselves, we were -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">182</span> -ordered not to build fires, or in any way make -ourselves conspicuous, for we were within range -of the enemy’s guns. Our situation was one of -exposure and peril, for if we obeyed orders we -were sure to perish with the cold, and if we disobeyed, -as sure to draw the enemy’s fire, with the -risk of losing life or limb. We took the latter -risk—built fires by which to warm ourselves, or -chased each other in a circle around a tree or stump -to keep our blood in circulation and our limbs from -freezing. And when a solid shot or a fragment -of a shell came whizzing through the woods where -we lay, we hugged the ground more closely, or -sought the shelter of some rock or stump or tree, -until the firing ceased, then resumed our exercise, -or gathered around the fire again to cook our -coffee, warm ourselves, and make another target for -the enemy.</p> - -<p>Thus for three days and nights the two great -armies of Virginia menaced each other across the -valley of Mine Run. At last the movement was -abandoned and the campaign ended by the withdrawal -of our army to the north of the Rappahannock, -and two days afterward we found ourselves -in what proved to be our winter quarters at Liberty.</p> - -<p>While in winter quarters we had the pleasure of -seeing several ladies about the cantonments, among -them Mrs. Faxon, the young wife of our surgeon, -whose experience and memories of the time it may -be better to render in the first person. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">183</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XIII">XIII.<br /> - -<i>A LADY AT WINTER QUARTERS.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">EARLY in the winter of 1864, the 32d was in -winter cantonments at Liberty, near Bealton -Station, on the Orange & Alexandria railroad. Of -course somebody must have commanded the army, -but whoever he was, he never called upon me, and -is of no consequence to my story. My orders to -join came from an officer much more important in -my eyes—the surgeon of the 32d, who, queerly -enough, was also my husband.</p> - -<p>After all manner of experiences I arrived at Bealton -Station, a locality which by daylight appeared -to be a quarter-section of Virginia land and a small, -rough, and inconvenient platform of planks; but it -was evening when I arrived—yes, a dark, rainy, -December evening. A shadowy form having the -voice of our garrulous quartermaster waited to welcome -me, and by it I was ushered into the damp -darkness, out of which loomed, by and by, the hazy -form of an ambulance and two hazy mules—and -then, but beyond and more misty, the upper half of -what seemed to be my husband, and the ears of his -horse. Whether I was sufficiently hearty in my -greeting I do not know—I am afraid not, for all -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">184</span> -this was not what I had imagined would be my first -impressions on coming within army lines.</p> - -<p>My idea of an army was made up of brilliant -sights and stirring sounds. Nice clean flags—bright-buttoned -uniforms—flying horses and full -bands of music, were essential parts of the picture -which my fancy had painted, and here was nothing -but wet and darkness and mud. Through mud a -foot deep, the creaking of the vehicle and “soh” of -the feet of the wading mules, only breaking the -moist silence—I was driven to the mansion in which -my husband was quartered, and which was to be -my home for the winter. Out of all this dreariness, -however, I stepped into the cheerful light of glowing -windows, and was welcomed to a most hospitable -wood fire, in front of which was a table set out with -a smoking supper of tempting odor—and my surgeon -appeared no longer misty and uncorporeal, -but solid humanity, and looking really quite bright -in the eyes, and happy in my coming.</p> - -<p>The hearty welcome, the bright light, and the -cheering warmth soon obliterated all memory of the -weary journey and the dismal night. The fatted -chicken had been killed for me, and was served -with hot potatoes, corn-bread, tea, and cold meat. -A bright little negro girl waited upon me, and it -added to the pleasant novelty of my position to be -served by a piece even so small of the “peculiar -institution.”</p> - -<p>The “mansion” consisted of four rooms, the two -on the lower floor separated by a hall; the kitchen -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">185</span> -was a small building across the yard—earth floored—and -it was not only kitchen but bed-room for the -black servants, who, however, did not seem to use -any beds. But all this I did not learn until daylight -came again, and the drums, fifes, and bugles bursting -out into reveille woke me amid dreams of home-life -to the consciousness of my surroundings. Listening -to that stirring music (how exhilarating even -now is the bare memory of the reveille) and looking -out from my window upon the camp of our -Regiment and of many other regiments, seeing -everywhere the signs of real service, I was more -than satisfied, and no longer bewailed the absence of -my ideal army.</p> - -<p>This winter was one of halcyon days to me. -Accustomed to the rigors of a Northern winter, the -many bright warm days of the season, in Virginia, -were peculiarly enjoyable. The country had been -stripped of fences, and our horseback rides were -limited only by our picket lines. Now we walked -our horses through the woods, the dry underbrush -crackling beneath their hoofs—now cantered freely -over some wide expanse of old fields,—reining -up to pass some ugly bit of corduroy road, or to -ford a full water-course. In the foreground might -be a “mansion,” occupied by some general officer -as his headquarters, or a group of negro huts still -tenanted by blacks of all ages. In the distance the -high hills of the Blue Ridge, and perhaps between, -in the middle distance, picturesque camps of artillery, -cavalry, or infantry. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">186</span></p> - -<p>A few of the houses were still occupied by -the families of their owners, among whom we -made acquaintances; the able-bodied men were all -“away,” the women said; where,—they never told.</p> - -<p>Besides our almost daily rides, we paid and -received visits, and exchanged rather limited hospitalities. -Quartermaster Hoyt entertained us frequently, -and although his <i>piece de résistance</i> was -invariably a dish of fish balls, yet having a cook -who knew how to make good ones, his fare always -seemed sumptuous. Once we dined with Colonel -Prescott, who flared out with a joint of roast beef, -but this was exceptional grandeur.</p> - -<p>Our quarters became quite the evening resort for -officers of the 32d, and the few ladies who were -there, and the hours passed pleasantly away with -chat and games and jokes and stories. I could not -then with any success assume a matronly role, and -sometimes perhaps actually enjoyed the practical -jokes which abounded in the camp. Then, too, -where ladies are but few, they certainly are better -appreciated than in the crowded halls of fashion, -and it was pleasant (for I am human and woman) -to be the attraction in a circle of young and brave -men.</p> - -<p>Please don’t anybody think that my time was -entirely taken up with pleasures or trifling occupations. -Even doctors need all manner of work done -for them by their wives—there were some housekeeping -cares, and the regimental hospital was none -the worse for having a woman’s eye over it. My -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">187</span> -first experience in dressmaking was in behalf of -Mrs. O., a native neighbor, who had been useful, -and possibly earned a trifle by mending for officers -and men. To be sure when it was done it appeared -that I had made the back of the basque all in one -piece, without any seam, but that may be the -fashion some day. No, I was not idle, and all -days were not bright and happy, but the bright ones -linger longest in my memory.</p> - -<p>I did, once in a while, wish that in my peaceful -life there might be mingled, just for seasoning, a -trifle of real war; but one evening, when we were -attending a dance over at the spacious log camp of -Martin’s battery, there came an orderly all splashed -with mud, with news that a raiding party of the -enemy was close at hand, and the party scattered, -infantry officers hurrying back to their regiments, -and all to their posts. The brass guns, which, -decked in fresh evergreen, had formed quite a striking -decoration to the temporary ball-room, were -hustled away into position. The voices which had -been saying pretty things to us changed to tones of -command, hardly softening to tell us that safety -forbade our return to quarters. Some sort of a hole -was prepared for our safe-keeping in case of attack, -but when all was quiet, beds were made in the log -house assigned to us ladies, of boughs laid on raised -boards, on which we slept soundly until daylight -came, when the alarm was over, and it was safe for -us to ride home. It was very nice for once, but my -ambition for stirring scenes was fully satisfied. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">188</span></p> - -<p>Late in the season there was quite a grand ball, -and on St. Patrick’s day a merry party gathered to -witness the games, races, and sports which had been -organized by the officers of the 9th Massachusetts -Regiment in honor of the festival. This was the -height of the winter’s gaiety; with the milder air of -spring, we non-combatants must flit away to our -homes, and leave our soldiers alone to meet the stern -realities of the coming campaign.</p> - -<p>But there were stern realities too, for us at home, -as we waited, sometimes in dread, because we -heard nothing, and yet again trembling for fear that -we should hear a more dread <i>something</i>—trying -even, while oppressed thus with terror and anxiety, -to compose cheerful letters to the dear ones out of -sight under the war-cloud. Is it wonderful that we -welcomed with something of a weird satisfaction -every call in behalf of the soldiers for our time, our -labor, and our energy, or that we plunged into the -work of our own sphere with a certain reckless -desire to drown out in stirring occupation, the care -and anxiety which haunted each idle hour.</p> - -<p>Can anyone realize in these peaceful days what -was one of the chief of women’s sorrows then—that -very often that which was the cause of their -deepest grief and affliction, might be the occasion -for public and general rejoicing, and that the wife -of yesterday, the widow of today, must don her -weeds of mourning at the moment when the country -clad itself in gay bunting, and threw rockets to the -sky for very joy that out of bloodshed there had -come victory. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">189</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XIV">XIV.<br /> - -<i>AT LIBERTY.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">DURING the winter of 1863-4, the portion of -the Army of the Potomac which included our -Regiment was encamped in a position to defend the -railroad between Bealton and Warrenton, from -attacks by guerillas, and the camp of the 32d was -in close proximity to the village of Liberty, a very -small place whose name meant, before the war, -liberty to the white man only, and but for the “little -unpleasantness” and its results, the name would -have had no significance to men of color.</p> - -<p>Liberty proved to be an agreeable camp for the -32d, for their rows of tented dwellings were pitched -on a pleasant wooded slope where the ground was -dry, with good drainage, an abundant supply of -water near at hand, and soil less inclined to mud -than in the greater part of the old Commonwealth -of Virginia.</p> - -<p>The picket duty was severe, as at this point there -was a thoroughfare leading directly into the country -of the enemy, and a railroad bridge, the loss of -which would cause great annoyance to our own -army by interrupting our line of communication, and -cutting off one portion from its base of supply. But -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">190</span> -there was much to enliven us and break the -monotony of camp life.</p> - -<p>It was a little past midnight on the evening of the -dance which was so rudely interrupted, that the -long roll was sounded and, in scarcely more time -than is necessary to write it, the Regiment was -under arms and deployed in various directions for -the protection of the camp. The disturbance was -caused by a squad of rebel cavalry who had forced -the picket line at a weak point, their presumable -object being a raid on the United States paymaster, -who came into camp that night to payoff the brigade; -but the yankee soldier generally keeps picket with -eyes and ears open, and whoever would cross his -beat must have a feather tread. The paymaster -(the late Major Holman), although the object of -the attack, slept quietly through the whole uproar, -and did not wake until morning. Apparently his -safe might have been stolen and carried off without -his being aware of it. We were out about two -hours, when the enemy having been driven beyond -our lines, we were sent back to our quarters.</p> - -<p>An amusing incident occurred here one dark night -which created quite a sensation on the picket line, -at that time under command of Captain Farnsworth. -Going the rounds at two o’clock A. M., posts eight, -nine, and ten were found on the <i>qui vive</i>. They -were stationed in the edge of a wood, where just -across a narrow strip of grass-land there was another -belt of forest. For some little time they had heard -footsteps and other sounds which led them to believe -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">191</span> -that their posts were being reconnoitered by the -enemy. After waiting some minutes and leaving -orders that no aggressive movement should be made, -but that in case any party should be seen to leave -the opposite wood, the sentinels should order “halt,” -and if not obeyed should fire, the captain passed on -his tour of inspection. Before the round was completed -he heard a shot from this direction, succeeded -by perfect quiet, and when again at post nine the -sentinel reported that he had done as directed, that -some object had, in spite of his challenge, continued -to approach, that he had fired and dropped the -intruder, who or which, upon examination, proved -to be a <i>mule</i>. Well, he ought to have halted.</p> - -<p>It was from this camp that a night expedition was -sent after deserters. Outside our lines, at distances -varying from two to four miles, were several dwelling -houses occupied by families for whose protection -it was common to billet a man on the premises as a -“safeguard.” Such men were not subject to capture -on this neutral ground, and their posts were very -desirable, as they were well cared for by those -under their guardianship, and had little to do, -plenty of leisure, and often very pleasant society. -But there were troubles connected with such -arrangements. The men in camp hearing of the -attractions of these places so near at hand where -coffee, salt, and other supplies were exceeding -scarce, and where gifts of them were acknowledged -by various favors—were tempted to slip over the -lines, each with little parcels saved from his abundant -rations, supplemented, perhaps, with a spare -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">192</span> -jackknife and a few needles, to seek adventures -among the natives. The fact that they ran the risk -of capture and imprisonment probably added zest to -such escapades, but was of itself a good reason why -they should be prevented. In fact, it was within -this very territory that Major Edmunds and his -orderly were captured.</p> - -<p>At the roll call at retreat, March 31st, 1864, it -appeared that several men were “unaccounted for,” -and there was little doubt as to the cause of their -absence. The colonel, who had previously considered -the propriety of some action on his part, was -now at the end of his patience, and determined to -put a check upon the practice. Sending for an officer -who was at that time serving on a general court -martial, and consequently not considered “for duty” -in the Regiment, he told him of his wishes and -offered him the command of the detachment which -should make a detour through a portion of the neutral -territory, and search for and, if possible, capture -the missing men.</p> - -<p>A detail of twenty-eight men was finally made -from nearly twice that number who volunteered for -the duty. Included in this number was one man -who had been on safeguard duty in the neighborhood -that we proposed to visit, and who could act as -a guide to the party.</p> - -<p>The party were in light marching order, each -man with a day’s rations and forty rounds of ammunition -in the cartridge boxes, and it left camp an -hour and a half before midnight, at which hour it -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">193</span> -was intended to reach the house of Colonel N——. -The path was a narrow forest roadway, and for the -greater part of the distance led through what was -known as the “three-mile wood.” The night was -moonless and very dark, and the detachment filed -on, mile after mile, always on the alert and suspicious -of every sound, until at last, and in good -time, they reached the cleared land about Colonel -N.’s “palatial mansion.” Deploying an advance -guard they proceeded with the utmost caution to -surround the house, and but for the dogs, who challenged -loudly, the purpose would have been readily -accomplished; but the inmates were speedily astir, -alarmed by the baying of the hounds, and lights -danced about from window to window. Whether -rebel soldiers were among the occupants or not -could not be told, but soon men came out at the doors, -and their footsteps could be heard as they ran, but -no one could see ten feet away to distinguish a man -from a tree.</p> - -<p>Orders had been given not to fire without command, -and to give chase in the darkness would risk the loss -of men without any good result. The party therefore -went on cautiously to surround the house, and -men were posted in such manner as to command -all approaches to the mansion, with orders to halt -and arrest whoever attempted to enter or to leave. -After these guards were posted, the remainder, under -a sergeant, were marched away for a half mile -up the road, making considerable noise as they went, -and then halted to await orders. In the meantime -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">194</span> -the squad about the house was kept quiet in the -darkness, out of the way of any light from the windows. -After ten minutes had elapsed the door of -the mansion was opened and some one looked out, -thinking, no doubt, that the disturbers were well -away. Then, as if the door opening had been a -signal, the sound of footsteps was heard approaching -slowly through the dry leaves and twigs in the woods; -then a whispered conversation, and again the steps -approached. A moment later two men came on, until, -when within five feet of the commander, they were -halted with the order, “Surrender, or I fire.” At -first they turned, evidently with the intention of -escaping, but changed their minds, saying, “Don’t -fire, we surrender.” These proved to be two of the -men of whom the expedition was in search. They -had been in the house, and had started at the alarm, -thinking that the troops were from the rebel lines; -had waited until, as they supposed, the detachment -had passed on its way, and then were going back to -the house. Leaving these men under guard the -house itself was summoned. The door being opened -by a woman, and the lady of the house called for, -four of the party entered and were referred to a -beautiful and accomplished young lady of perhaps -twenty years. Miss N. received them courteously, -but declared upon her honor that no men from our -camp had been in the house that day or evening. -She was informed as politely as possible that there -was an error in this statement—that two such men -had already been secured, and that search would be -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">195</span> -made for more. This resulted in the arrest of a -third man, and having bagged him and apologized -for the disturbance that had been caused, the party -moved away.</p> - -<p>“While life lasts,” says the captain, who commanded, -“I shall not forget the flash of the young -lady’s eyes when I questioned her assertion. I -have often thought that if every southern soldier had -to look for approval or disapproval into such a pair -of eyes, it was no wonder victory often perched on -their banners when the odds were against them.”</p> - -<p>At half past two in the morning the party was -back again in camp with three prisoners, and found -that two others who ran from the house had returned -of their own accord. All of these were of course -technically deserters, but none were severely punished. -The result of this expedition was to put a -stop to a practice by means of which valuable information, -no doubt, reached the enemy. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">196</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XV">XV.<br /> - -<i>OUT ON PICKET.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">PICKET duty may be the most agreeable or it -may be the most disagreeable of all the duties -of a soldier, but it is always an important, and is -often a dangerous one.</p> - -<p>Picket-guards are formed by details on orders -from headquarters. Sometimes the guard will -include the entire regiment, or details from several -regiments, but if the orders are from the battalion -headquarters, it is usually composed of detachments -from several companies. The officers are -detailed from the adjutant’s roster and the designation -of the enlisted men from each company -devolves upon the first or orderly sergeants. The -officers, non-commissioned officers and men, are -supposed to be taken for duty in rotation, and woe -befall the unfortunate orderly who designates one of -the confirmed growlers out of what he considers -his turn, as laid down on his own time-table, and -many are the threats heaped on the head of the sergeants, -which happily are never executed.</p> - -<p>Under command of the ranking officer, the -detachment is marched out and posted to guard the -line assigned to its protection—usually there is -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">197</span> -merely a chain of sentinels who are relieved at regular -intervals of time from the main body; but -sometimes, and always in the case of detached outposts, -the men are divided into groups of three or -more, under the supervision of the non-commissioned -officers of the guard, while the commander -of the whole line establishes reserves at points convenient -for reinforcing it in case of need, and -assigns to the subalterns the command of various -portions.</p> - -<p>Relieved from the wearisome round of camp -duties and parades, and placed where each man has -his own responsibilities, and must exercise his own -judgment, picket duty often becomes an acceptable -change, both for officers and men. In the warm -season the men make a sort of picnic of their tour, -and out on the front edge of the occupying army -they can frequently obtain articles of food, which, -although common enough in civil life, are real luxuries -to those who have been limited in their diet to -the rations issued in the army. They bask in the -sunshine, or loiter in the shade—and when it is -their turn for repose, the jackknives are busy and the -chat is lively.</p> - -<p>Sometimes our picket-line would be on a river, -the opposite bank of which was guarded by the -enemy, and there would be times of unofficial truce -when we traded over the stream coffee for tobacco, -etc., and when we even made visits to each other, -and talked as freely as if we might not at a -moment’s notice be enemies again. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">198</span></p> - -<p>But it is one of the unfortunate facts in a soldier’s -life, that picket duty is not confined to quiet times or -pleasant weather. The growlers usually maintained -that it was always stormy when they were -out on picket, and in three winters that we dwelt in -tents within the boundaries of Virginia, there were -many rough times on the picket lines when the -rain poured down continuously, saturating the -ground, clinging to the grass in the open, and to -the undergrowth in the forests, and streaming down -from the boughs—wet, wet—water, water, everywhere; -on the ground where we slept, on the stone -or log which was the only seat; dribbling through -a corner of the tent, usually down the neck of its -occupant, or making a little rill off one’s overcoat -and into one’s boot top.</p> - -<p>Or perhaps it was snow or sleet that stung our -faces and chilled us to the marrow; or perhaps, -worst of all, the clear cold of winter which our -little picket fires, when they were permitted, did but -little to overcome.</p> - -<p>There was one occasion while we were at Liberty, -on which we were indulged with all of these in -turn. It was early in the spring of ‘64, the day had -been warm and rainy, unseasonably warm and quite -seasonably rainy, the rain continuing into the night -and the wind rising to a gale that made all manner -of noises in the wood in which our line was posted. -The men all soaked through, had hard work to keep -their ammunition dry and their rifles in condition -for use, and all of us, uncomfortable as mortals -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">199</span> -could be, feeling as if the night would never pass -and morning never come, wished more heartily than -ever “that this cruel war was over,” that we might -have a chance to get in out of the rain.</p> - -<p>All of a sudden the wind shifted to the northwest, -and we had first hail, then snow, and finally clear -cold weather, the gale all the time continuing; the -men themselves, almost chilled to icicles, were soon -clothed in armor of ice, which cracked and rustled -as they tramped along their beat, beneath a clear -sky and stars that shone with winter brilliancy.</p> - -<p>The morning came at last, and with the rising sun -there was exhibited one of those marvels of beauty -which can come only from such a preparation. -Every twig and branch of tree or shrub, and every -spear of grass or tuft of herbage clad in a coating -of ice, blazed with the hue of the rainbow. The -trees in the forest seemed loaded with jewels, and -the meadows were strewn with them.</p> - -<p>But the power of the spring sunshine dissolved -the gorgeous display, and thawed out the sentinels -from their encasements of ice; the wind ceased, -the mildness of the balmy Southern spring returned, -and soon from every man a cloud of steam rose in -the quiet air, and as their clothing dried and their -bodies warmed, the spirits of the men thawed out, -and they who, in the previous twenty-four hours, -had passed through various stages of discomfort, -were cheerily chaffing one another as they made -their breakfast of hot coffee and soaked cakes of -what had once been hard-tack, and very likely wrote -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">200</span> -home the next day about the charms of the Southern -climate, which gave them such delicious spring -weather in what was at home the winter month of -March.</p> - -<p>Whether it is summer or winter, hot or cold, sunshine -or rain, day or night, and however peaceful -or stormy the scene may be, the picket guard must -keep their eyes open and their powder dry. Constituting -the outposts of an army which trusts to -them, they must be always alert against surprise. -And although we may have been accustomed for -weeks to exchange friendly civilities with the pickets -over the river, the time would come when each -would do his best to kill the other. When some -change was contemplated, or some movement began -which it was desirable to conceal from our adversary, -orders would be sent to the pickets to open -fire on those of the enemy.</p> - -<p>Such orders were of course first notified to the -other side, and no advantage was taken by either -of existing truce relations. After that warning, -whoever showed out of cover was a target for the -enemy’s picket, and frequently no fires were -allowed, because the light or smoke would aid the -aim of the foe.</p> - -<p>If the movement was a direct advance from our -front, the first order would be announced by shouts -of “Look out, Johnnie, we’re coming,” and some -shots sent purposely in the air, and then came the -driving in of the enemy’s pickets.</p> - -<p>Or possibly the boot was on the other leg and it -was we that were driven in, in which case it was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">201</span> -our duty to cause all possible delay to the attacking -force. The reserves were added to the line, and as -we fell back the whole would be relieved by other -troops sent forward at the alarm and interposed -between us and the rebels, whereupon we were -marched to join our respective regiments and companies.</p> - -<p>Sometimes it is desirable to capture some men -from the pickets of the opposing army, in order or -in hopes of obtaining information, and sometimes a -picket is captured for a lark, or because of a favorable -chance—a chance which generally implies -neglect of duty on the part of the captured men.</p> - -<p>In one instance an outpost party of five men, -believing themselves to be at a safe distance from -the enemy, ventured to indulge in the luxury of a -game of cards, for which purpose they placed their -arms in a stack, and soon became deeply interested -in the game, from which they were aroused by a -summons to surrender. Upon looking up they discovered -a single man of the enemy, standing -between them and the stack, his rifle trained on the -group, and himself so posted as that he could supply -himself with their rifles after discharging his own. -Thus he could put two or three of his opponents -<i>hors de combat</i>, while, all unarmed, they could not -possibly harm him; and so the five surrendered to the -one, who marched them before him to his own lines.</p> - -<p>When things were lively on the picket lines -and the men alert, it was wearing business. The -strain of constant watchfulness, especially at night, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">202</span> -peering into the gloom and imagining that you see -forms or hear movements—the knowledge that your -own life may depend upon the keenness of your -vision—the fear of mistaking friend for foe—the -need of quick intelligence and rapid reasoning—all -make up an exhausting kind of duty.</p> - -<p>At one such time, one of our officers, a brave fellow, -but one whose experience of picket duty was -insufficient, thinking to ascertain the origin of suspicious -sounds outside our lines, went out on a scout, -expecting to return at the point where he left, but -mistaking his way in the night, he came upon our -chain of pickets at another post which he had neglected -to warn of his doings. As he continued to -approach when challenged, the sentinel fired, and -next day among the casualties reported was, “One -officer wounded on the picket line, arm, severely.” -No one was to blame but himself.</p> - -<p>That same night the men, nervous from the frequent -firing along the line, one of the posts became -aware of the sound of steps out in the bush field on -their front, evidently approaching nearer and nearer; -then one of the men could see what seemed to -be a man crouching near the earth and creeping -through the brush with frequent hesitation; finally -the sentinel challenged, and receiving no reply, -fired. The crack of his rifle was followed by the -agonizing grunts and dying squeals of a stray -Southern porker who had yielded up his life for the -lost cause.</p> - -<p>It may be that accidents of this last type were -more frequent than was necessary (there were three -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">203</span> -pigs killed that night), but vigilance on the part of -the guards is always praiseworthy, and the orders -against marauding could not apply to such a case, -even if the result was a good supply of fresh pork-chops -along the picket lines next day. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">204</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XVI">XVI.<br /> - -<i>ON FURLOUGH.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">IN the winter of 1863-4, the great majority of the -men of the 32d reënlisted for a term of three years, -under an order which in such cases gave the entire -reënlisting body a furlough of thirty days. It was -only after much struggling with bumbledom that -everything was smoothed out and the furlough -granted, so that the Regiment could return as one -body.</p> - -<p>Leaving the camp and the remainder of the men -under command of Captain Fuller of Company -C, the Regiment left for Massachusetts to enjoy its -vacation. It was a little before noon on Sunday, -the 17th of January, 1864, a bright and mild winter -day, that we arrived in Boston, and our first impression -upon arrival was that all the people of Boston -were gathered about the Old Colony station, but -there were enough of them left to line the whole -route through the city, as we marched first to the -State House to pay our respects to Governor -Andrew, and as we moved thence to Faneuil Hall, -where a bounteous collation awaited us. Notwithstanding -the day the troops were saluted along the -line by the cheers of the people, and the salvos of -artillery. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">205</span></p> - -<p>At Faneuil Hall, after all had been satisfied with -the repast, Governor Andrew arose to address them -and was greeted with hearty cheers. He spoke in -substance as follows:</p> - -<blockquote> - -<p><i>Soldiers</i>:—In the name and in behalf of the Commonwealth -and of the people of Massachusetts, I greet your -return once more to your homes and to the soil of the -venerable Bay State. The cordial voices of the people -who have welcomed your procession through the streets -of Boston, these waving banners, these booming cannon -breaking the stillness of our Sabbath day with voices -echoing the sounds of battle—all, all bid you welcome—welcome -home. The grateful hospitality of Boston -beneath the venerable arches of Faneuil Hall welcomes you. -Our hearts, speaking the eloquence of affection, admiration, -and pride no words of mortal lips can utter, with -beating throbs bid you welcome. Hail then, soldiers of -our cause, returning for brief relaxation from the toils, the -conflicts, the perils of war, hail to your homes. Here let -the war-worn soldier-boy rest for a while, and rejuvenate -his spirits, refresh his heart, and re-erect his frame. Here, -too, I trust, shall your ranks be filled by fresh recruits of -brave and patriotic hearts, imitating your zeal, vying with -your courage, and following your example. I cannot, -soldiers of the Union Army, by words, by eloquence of -speech, in fitting measure repeat your praise. This -battle flag, riddled with shot and torn with shell, is more -eloquent than human voice, more speaking than language, -more inspiring, more pathetic than music or song. This -banner tells what you have done; it reveals what you -have borne. And it shall be preserved so long as the last -thread remains, so long as time shall leave a splinter -of its staff—a memorial of your heroism, your patriotism -and your valor.</p> - -<p>While I greet the return of these brave and stalwart -men to the homes of Massachusetts, I remember those comrades -in arms whose forms you have left behind. Yielding -to the shock of battle, many of those brave soldier-boys -to whom, in behalf of the Commonwealth, I bade farewell -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">206</span> -some months ago, fighting for that flag, defending the -rights and honor of our common country, maintaining the -liberties of her people, the traditions of the fathers, and -the rights of humanity—have been laid low. They sleep -beneath the sod that covers the rude grave of the soldier. -Oh, rest in peace, ye hero martyrs, until the resurrection -summons shall call you to that other <i>Home</i>! No -longer obedient to any earthly voice or any human leader, -you have made your last report, and in the spirit have -already ascended to join the Great Commander! The -humblest soldiers who have given their lives away, will be -remembered so long as our country shall preserve a history. -Their fame will be acknowledged with grateful -affection when ten thousand prouder names shall have -been forgot.</p> - -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">“While thousand as absurd as I,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">Cling to their skirts, they still shall fly,<br /></span> -<span class="i0">And spring to immortality.”<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> - -<p>I give you praise from the bottom of a grateful heart, -in behalf of a grateful and patriotic people, for all that -you have suffered and for all that you have attempted. -And now on this holy sabbath day, let us remember with -the filial thankfulness of sons, with the devoted piety of -Christians, as well as the exulting confidence of patriots -what the <i>God of our fathers</i> has done for us, from the -beginning. Unto <i>Him</i> and not unto us be all the praise -and the glory. Unto Him who sitteth upon the throne -and ruleth the nations let us give everlasting ascriptions -of praise, that through the trials of many a defeat, through -the despondency of many a temporary repulse, our arms -have been conducted to many a triumph, and our minds -to still loftier heights of moral victory. You are fighting -now for the cause of your country, and also—for Washington -used to love to declare he drew his sword—“for -the rights of human nature.” And now let all of us, -living men, on this holy day and on this sacred spot -where our fathers were wont to meet in the dark hours of -earlier history—let all of us living men, consecrate -ourselves anew, by the vows of a new obedience, to our -country, to humanity, and to God.</p></blockquote> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">207</span></p> - -<p>At the hall the Regiment was dismissed, but only -to meet renewed evidences of cordial hospitality. -Company I was entertained the same day by the -civic authorities of Charlestown, and Company K -the next day at Newton. The officers breakfasted -with Colonel Parker at the Parker House on Monday, -and on the 16th of February, on the eve of -their return, dined with him at the Revere House, -on which latter occasion Governor Andrew was -present and expressed, as no one could do more -more heartily or more genially, his appreciation of -the past service of the Regiment, and his good -wishes for their future.</p> - -<p>Besides these there were balls and dinners and -entertainments to occupy all the time that the -soldiers were willing to spare from their home -enjoyments, until their departure February 17th, and -on the Monday ensuing the Regiment was again in -camp at Liberty, with its new title of “Veteran,” -which the 32d was the first, from Massachusetts, to -assume. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">208</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XVII">XVII.<br /> - -<i>THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">WHEN one of the many interviewers of President -Lincoln introduced the subject of the -election of his successor, the President is reported -to have declared, with his wonted quaintness of -expression, that “it wasn’t a good plan to swap -horses while crossing a stream,” by which he was -understood to argue in favor of his own reëlection.</p> - -<p>Unfortunately he limited in practice the force of -this pithy saying to his own office and his own continuance -therein. He showed little hesitation in -“swapping” one general for another, and often -selected the middle of a very rapid stream as the -place for the swap.</p> - -<p>The last of these changes—that which placed -General Grant in command of all the armies in -place of Halleck—was certainly no injury to the -service. Perhaps the greatest mistake of all, in a -military point of view, was that which took General -McClellan from the same position. It was the long-continued -service of Lee which made him what he -proved to be—the ablest of the Confederate generals. -Such a mistake as he made in attacking -Meade at Gettysburg would, or should have, proved -the ruin of any Union general. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">209</span></p> - -<p>But at last we had generals who had come to stay, -and Grant’s obstinate pluck, assisted by Meade’s -tactical ability, well supported by the political -powers at Washington, were to give us final success.</p> - -<p>April 30th, 1864, we broke camp at Liberty, and -with the army led by our new General-in-Chief -Grant, advanced to meet the enemy. The first day’s -march was only five miles. Our division, gathering -near Rappahannock Station, encamped for the -night. The next morning we crossed the river for -the fifteenth time, making another short march to -Brandy Station.</p> - -<p>May 3d we marched leisurely to Culpepper (distance -six miles), and halted there several hours. -Marched all the night following, crossing the -Rapidan at Germania Ford at eight o’clock in the -morning, where we halted for breakfast. During -the day we pushed steadily forward into the Wilderness, -marching till dark, when we bivouacked near -Wilderness Tavern, in close proximity to the -enemy.</p> - -<p>May 5th.—Early in the morning we were in line -of battle, with orders to fortify our position. We -had an abundance of material with which to build -breastworks, and axes, spades, and picks were freely -used by willing hands. In a few hours we built a -formidable line of defense, behind which we expected -to fight, but were disappointed (as we had often -been before) when the order “forward” was -sounded. About noon we advanced, leaving our -entrenched position for other troops to occupy. Our -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">210</span> -division, which had the honor of opening the campaign, -moved cautiously forward to attack the -enemy. Soon we encountered their skirmishers -and drove them back to their lines. As we -approached the enemy the Regiment made quick -time in crossing a road along which poured a shower -of grape and canister. Scarcely had we reached -the shelter of the woods on the opposite side of this -road when we came under fire of infantry, who gave -us a warm reception, but were pushed back before -our steady advance to their second line, where we -engaged them until dark.</p> - -<p>In this our first engagement in the Wilderness -campaign our Regiment suffered little, owing to the -favorable lay of the ground over which we advanced. -We lost none killed, and but thirteen wounded.</p> - -<p>That night we lay on our arms. There was, however, -but little chance for sleep, as we were in the -extreme front, and almost within speaking distance -of the enemy. Early the following morning the -fighting was renewed on our right and left, and was -then very severe. The rattle of musketry and the -roar of artillery, as it reverberated through the forest, -was terrific. Although we were under the fire of -artillery, with the din of battle thundering in our -ears, many of us slept, unable longer to resist -nature’s demand for repose.</p> - -<p>A pine tree standing just in the rear of our line -of battle was severed about midway by a cannon -ball, and the top fell to the ground and stood there -erect beside the trunk. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">211</span></p> - -<p>Towards midnight we were suddenly withdrawn, -and after marching (or rather stumbling) through -the woods in the darkness for about a mile, we halted -near where we were on the morning of the 5th. -There we laid down our arms and unconditionally -surrendered to an overwhelming force—“nature’s -sweet restorer, balmy sleep.”</p> - -<p>As it was quite dark when we arrived, we did not -know that a twelve-pound battery was in position -behind us and only a few rods distant, until about -daylight, when it opened fire and brought us to our -feet in quick time. The occasion was quickly ascertained. -The enemy had assumed the offensive, and -was advancing in force against our works. They -were handsomely repulsed, however, and with this -exception we were not disturbed that day. Several -times the enemy shelled us, but being protected by -breastworks, we suffered no loss. The line behind -us was less fortunate, several shells exploding there, -killing and wounding a number of men. Thus -we passed the third day of the battle of the Wilderness.</p> - -<p>At night the location of both armies was plainly -indicated by blazing camp-fires, as well as by the -cheers of the <i>Yanks</i> and the yells of the <i>Rebs</i>—demonstrations -that were intended by each to blind -the other in regard to their contemplated movements.</p> - -<p>About nine o’clock we began our first flank movement -towards Richmond. Neither tongue nor pen -would do justice to our experience of night marches -such as this. All night we marched and halted (but -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">212</span> -halted more than we marched). We did not often -stop to rest, but jogged along at a snail-like pace. -When our column moved we marched route step, -arms at will, and when it halted we came to order -arms and leaned upon our guns, keeping our places -in the ranks, so as to be on the alert to prevent a -surprise, ready for any emergency.</p> - -<p>About midnight we had just emerged from the -woods and, halting in the road, stood leaning on -our guns. It has been said that soldiers can sleep -while marching. Whether this be so or not, it is -certain that at this time three quarters of the men -were three quarters asleep, and the other quarter -more so, as we waited there for the column to start.</p> - -<p>At this moment the troops ahead came suddenly -to the front to meet, as they supposed, an attack of -the enemy in ambush, which proved to be only a -squad of stragglers who had stolen away into the -bushes by the roadside, and turned in for a good -night’s rest, but had been awakened at our approach. -The sudden alarm created a panic which ran like -an electric flash through the entire column, sweeping -the soldiers from the road as quickly and effectually -as though a battalion of cavalry had charged -upon us unawares. Lieutenant-Colonel Stephenson -was on his horse, but availed himself of the -momentary halt to drop off into a gentle slumber. -Suddenly he was awakened to find his horse whirling -around and himself apparently alone.</p> - -<p>Our double-quick movement in the dark from -the road to cover effectually awakened us, and we -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">213</span> -resumed our places in line, to laugh over our experience -and continue our tramp till daylight, when we -halted near Spottsylvania. One would suppose that -we needed rest and sleep by that time, but instead -of that our Regiment was ordered to support a battery, -and we remained during the day (Sunday), -spending most of the time fortifying the position. -There was considerable fighting during the day, -and at its close we moved to a new line of battle, -which we occupied during the 9th, 10th, and 11th of -May. This was within easy rifle range from the -enemy, and being able only partially to protect ourselves -behind the breastworks, several casualties -occurred in the Regiment.</p> - -<p>Sergeant Spalding was hit in the neck by a spent -ball, which he carefully saved. A man by his side -was struck in the forehead by a bullet which -knocked off his hat, made an ugly scalp wound, -and finally left him stunned and bleeding; the first -symptoms of his revival were a hand outstretched -and a “Good-bye, boys,” to those around him; but -he soon recovered enough to go to the rear for -repairs.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the 11th, General Grant sent -to Washington that memorable dispatch which was -characteristic of our leader and meant success, -although at a terrible sacrifice of life, limb and treasure: -“We have ended the sixth day of heavy -fighting, and expect to fight it out on this line if it -takes all summer.”</p> - -<p>Captain Dana had been on detached service, acting -as aide-de-camp to General Dana, who was in -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">214</span> -command somewhere out West. Having obtained a -leave of absence of sixty days he returned to the -Regiment, which he joined here in the Wilderness, -and resumed command of his company. Early in -the campaign he “captured” a wooden chair from -some house as we passed, which he persistently -carried wherever he went. At every halt the captain -brought his chair to the ground and sat himself -down in it comfortably and complacently. In every -fight his “private chair,” as he called it, shared his -dangers and rode upon his shoulder. In one of our -scrimmages a rifle shot struck the chair, and the -captain returned, among his casualties that day as -wounded, “Private Chair in the leg—badly.”</p> - -<p>The 12th of May, 1864, is a date never to be forgotten -by any of the 32d who were present in the attack on -Laurel Hill that day. Brief as was the action, the -loss of the Regiment in proportion to the numbers -engaged, was greater than in any battle of the war.</p> - -<p>That morning found us where we had been for -two or three days, in front of Laurel Hill, and distant -hardly more than a quarter of a mile from the -works of the enemy. Between us and them were -two swells of land, which afforded us some protection -from the enemy’s missiles. The summit of one -of these was occupied by our pickets, and the other -by the pickets of the rebels.</p> - -<p>About nine o’clock A. M. we received orders to -attack the position of the enemy on Laurel Hill, -and the brigade, commanded by Colonel Prescott, -advanced with a rush across the intervening space. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">215</span></p> - -<p>As the line of battle started, it overran the picket -line—dashed down the little depression in their front, -over the next rise of ground, but at the foot of Laurel -Hill the men, whose momentum had carried them -thus far, faltered under the terrible fire, and laid -down within a short distance of the enemy’s line of -works. Here the ground did not cover the left of the -Regiment, and while Colonel Stephenson was trying -to draw his left under shelter, he saw that the regiment -on his right had broken and was falling back -in great disorder, and at once ordered the men to -save themselves.</p> - -<p>The advance had been disastrous, but as usual the -retreat was far more so. In the 32d five bearers -fell before the colors reached the old position -behind our works; of the 190 men who advanced -in the regimental line, 103 were killed or wounded, -and from the time that they left the works until the -remnant had returned, less than thirty minutes had -elapsed. Among our wounded were Lieutenants -Lauriat, Hudson, and Farnsworth, Adjutant Kingsbury, -and Captains Bancroft and Hamilton; the -latter of whom died two months later of his wounds.</p> - -<p>From that day until the 23d, the Regiment was -almost constantly in position in front of the enemy -at Spottsylvania Court House and other localities, -the service varied by repeated change of location all -in the direction of the left, the building of new -breastworks, picket duty, etc.</p> - -<p>At the commencement of the war, the shovel was -derided by a considerable portion of the people of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">216</span> -the North, and even by the inexperienced and over-reckless -men in the army, but the soldiers of the -Army of the Potomac learned from experience the -value and advantage of the utensil. After long -and weary marches, the tired soldiers, if placed in -positions confronting the enemy, would almost -invariably, and often without orders, throw up -earthworks before they wrapped themselves in their -blankets for sleep.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the 23d we resumed our march -in the direction of the North Anna River, Crawford’s -division of our corps, which was composed -almost entirely of Pennsylvania troops, taking the -advance.</p> - -<p>Our destination was Jericho Ford on the North -Anna. When within a mile or two of the ford, at a -fork in the road, General Crawford by mistake took -the wrong way, and had advanced some distance in -that direction before his error was discovered. -Without waiting for that division to countermarch, -General Warren, our corps commander, directed -General Griffin with his division to cross the ford. -Our brigade took the advance and forded the stream, -which was about four feet deep. Reforming at once -upon a plain, the brigade advanced in line of battle -into a piece of woods, preceded by the 22d Massachusetts -as skirmishers, under the command of -Major Burt, one of the most skilful officers in -command of a skirmish line in the army. We had -barely entered the woods when our skirmishers drew -the fire from the enemy’s picket line, and the bullets -came whistling over our heads quite freely. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">217</span></p> - -<p>The enemy soon fell back, and after gaining some -ground we were directed to fell trees and erect -another line of works. The men worked with great -zeal, but had not finished when the enemy came -upon us in full force, General Hill’s corps essaying to -drive us from our position into the river. The attack -fell upon our division, which received the impetuous -charge with a steady fire, and the enemy retired. -Yet, notwithstanding the merciless reception which -was given them, the Confederates pushed forward -again about 5 P. M., and finally the line of the 9th -Massachusetts broke under the pressure, rendering -our position critical. The enemy poured through -the interval, thus endangering our whole line; but -their headlong course was checked by a well-directed -fire from a battery hastily placed in position, -and served under the eye of General Warren.</p> - -<p>Unable to sustain this raking fire of canister, the -Confederates gave way, and our line was reformed -and strengthened. During this time the 32d, which -formed the left flank of our battle line, maintained a -continuous fire, the men loading and discharging -their rifles with great rapidity. It is impossible to -tell how long this action was in progress, as in the -excitement of battle one can make but little note of -the passage of time, but after a sharp, quick -struggle, which seemed to last but a few minutes, -and yet probably consumed more than an hour’s -time, the enemy withdrew, baffled in his attempt to -force our position.</p> - -<p>If such a thing could well be, this was the most -enjoyable fight in which we participated during the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">218</span> -pounding process we were obliged to undergo from -the Wilderness to Petersburg. It was the only -engagement in which we had the advantage of -remaining under the cover of our works and receiving -the attack of the enemy. In every other action -during this campaign these conditions were reversed, -and our comparatively trifling loss demonstrated the -disadvantage under which we had habitually been -placed.</p> - -<p>This engagement proved that the enemy was on -our front in force, that he had again divined his -adversary’s plan of flanking his army, and that any -further advance in this direction must be gained by -hard fighting. We remained in our position during -the night, receiving no further annoyance from -the enemy. The next day we were moved to the -right, and on the 25th again moved a short distance -in the direction of Hanover Junction, where we -threw up works and did picket duty until nightfall -of the 26th, when we received orders to retire, -which we did silently, leaving our pickets to face the -enemy until the army had recrossed the North -Anna. Our division crossed at Quarles’ Ford, and -marched all night and the next day in the direction -of the Pamunkey River.</p> - -<p>After leaving the North Anna our next encounter -with the enemy was in the vicinity of Mechanicsville. -On the morning of the 30th our brigade -advanced in line of battle through the Tolopotomy -Swamp, driving the enemy’s skirmish line, which -made but little resistance, until we came to open -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">219</span> -fields around Shady Grove Church, where we found -him in force, protected by earthworks. This advance -through the woods was very toilsome; briars, fallen -trees, and similar obstructions impeding our progress, -made it difficult to preserve the line of battle. Many -of the men were badly shod; some had no covering -for the feet, yet were compelled to march over briars -and stumps which abounded.</p> - -<p>The men had started on the campaign well provided -with shoes—not new, perhaps, but in good -condition—and twenty-five days’ constant service, -in rain and sun, dust and mud, had left them in a -pitiable condition. Yet there was no help for it, no -supplies upon which to draw, for it was the 6th of -June before we saw our baggage and supply trains. -During this period of thirty days, neither men nor -officers could obtain any change of clothing; the -best that could be done was to catch a few hours, -while at rest, for washing, wait for the sun to do the -drying, and meantime go without.</p> - -<p>During the afternoon there was considerable -desultory firing, and our loss for the day amounted -to twenty-one killed or wounded, among them -Lieutenant George W. Bibby, killed.</p> - -<p>About midnight we were relieved by a brigade of -the 9th Corps, and went into camp. June 1st and -2d we were in the reserve, but on the 3d were -aroused before daybreak to take part in the battle of -Cold Harbor.</p> - -<p>Our part consisted of a charge across an open -field under a severe fire of grape and canister. We -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">220</span> -drove the enemy out of one line of earthworks and -into another, where he made a stand. The real -battle of Cold Harbor, probably, did not occupy -more than twenty minutes. It was the same along -the whole line as with us—a rapid charge under a -galling fire from the enemy, who, protected by -earthworks of great strength, easily repelled our -attacks. Our brigade was, perhaps, as successful -as any, for we did drive the enemy from his most -advanced position, but he retired to one of greater -strength. This attack was made before five o’clock -in the morning. During the remainder of the day -we laid quiet, within the redoubt we had captured, -the enemy occupying his interior line not more than -two hundred yards away. We kept up a constant -fire, watching for every man who had the courage to -show himself, thus hindering as far as was possible -the working of the Confederate guns. The defences -on our front were well constructed, and evidently laid -out under the supervision of an experienced engineer. -Indeed we learned from a prisoner that they were -begun two weeks before we reached the place, by -order of General Lee, who, it appears, foresaw that -General Grant would necessarily be brought to this -point if he continued “to fight it out on that line.”</p> - -<p>Between the lines of works occupied by our -brigade and the enemy, the ground was covered -with pine-trees felled and slashed across each other, -making the passage through exceedingly difficult for -troops, even had they been unopposed. But, in addition, -the enemy had posted a battery in such a -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">221</span> -position that he could sweep the field with the fire -of his guns, from which there was no shelter.</p> - -<p>In view of all this we were not much elated when -we received an order that at six o’clock P. M. we were -to attack the enemy in our front, without regard to the -movements of the troops on either flank. Lieutenant-Colonel -Stephenson, believing that, under the -circumstances, the movement could not be successful, -sent to General Griffin, the division commander, -a description and sketch of the position of the -enemy and the ground before us, whereupon the -order was so changed that we were not to advance -until the 9th Corps, which joined our right, should -move. It can be imagined how anxiously we watched -the movements of the 9th, but the hour came, and -the artillery signal for the charge was unnoticed by -the troops on our right, who did not budge, and we -were glad indeed when darkness came on and we -knew that we had, at least for the time, escaped the -terrible ordeal we had expected. We know now that -the order to charge was given to the commanders -of every corps, but was disregarded by every one; -feeling that, after the experiences of the morning, -another charge would result in fearful loss of life, -with no effect upon the enemy’s position. Our loss -during the day was ten killed and twenty-one -wounded. The loss to the Union army was over -thirteen thousand killed and wounded; that of the -Confederates, less than one thousand.</p> - -<p>For a few days after the battle of Cold Harbor -there seemed to be an intention on the part of General -Grant to commence siege operations. We were -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">222</span> -then about twelve miles from Richmond, and on the -same ground where, nearly two years before, was -fought the action of Gaines’ Mill—the first of -McClellan’s seven days’ battle in 1862. The prospect -of another campaign in the swamps of the Chickahominy -was not attractive, and no regrets were -expressed when on the 12th of June, General Grant -abandoned his attempt to attack Richmond directly, -and headed his columns for the James River.</p> - -<p>To cover this change of plan, the 5th Corps -crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, and -threatened to force a passage through White Oak -Swamp, but as soon as the rest of the army had -crossed the James, we took up our march southward, -and followed to a point a little below Wilcox Landing, -where we were ferried over the river, and on -the 16th the whole army was on the right bank preparing -for a new campaign. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">223</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XVIII">XVIII.<br /> - -<i>THE BOMB PROOFS.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">AFTER the long marches of the spring campaign -of 1864, through the Wilderness to -Spottsylvania Court House, across the North Anna, -through the Tolopotomy Swamp to Bethesda Church, -thence <i>via</i> the Chickahominy, White Oak Swamp, -and Charles City Court House to the James River, -the 32d Regiment crossed the James and marched -to a point on the Norfolk Railroad, about three -miles from Petersburg, where, on the 18th of -June, they took part in the charge which drove -the enemy into their last line of intrenchments. -It was in this action that Colonel George L. Prescott -fell, mortally wounded. While the engagement -was not an entire success, it gave us the -vantage ground of the crest of a hill, which we -retained, and whereon we established our line of -entrenchments; and this was the position from -which the Burnside mine was afterwards made and -exploded. After this line was established, our -Brigade was ordered to the rear, into camp along -the Jerusalem plank road, where we were held as -reserves for special duty; and this was not, as might -be supposed, light duty, for while there we were -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">224</span> -busy day and night, building a large earthwork fort, -which was named Fort Prescott in honor of our -colonel. Here Lieutenant-Colonel Stephenson, suffering -from his wounds, resigned and left us, to -return to civil life, and Major Edmunds was -appointed Colonel, Captain Cunningham, Lieutenant-Colonel, -and Captain Shepard, Major.</p> - -<p>On the 12th of July, after being in reserve somewhat -over three weeks, during which we had been -called upon twice to reinforce the 2d and 6th Corps -lines, we were ordered into the trenches, and began -our life in the bomb proofs. Our first term of -service there extended from July 12th to August -16th, a continuous period of five weeks, and must -have been experienced to be fully realized.</p> - -<p>In order to give the reader an idea of what a -bomb proof is, we will describe the method of its -construction. First, a hole is dug in the ground, -which, of necessity, when in front of an active -enemy, must be done under cover of darkness; this -hole is perhaps four or five feet deep, providing the -ground is not too wet; then the top is roofed over -with logs of wood held up by cross timbers; then -the earth which has been dug out is thrown over the -logs, which makes the whole comparatively water-tight -and proof against solid shot or shells, such as -the enemy seemed to delight in tossing over into our -lines in season and out of season, giving us frequent -surprises and placing some of us <i>hors du combat</i>. -There were, of course, openings to these subterranean -caverns so that those who were to occupy -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">225</span> -them could crawl in and out. The openings were -usually not much larger than was needed for a man -comfortably to get in and out, and had an adjustable -log to cover the major portion of the aperture, so -arranged that it could be moved on and off at -pleasure. This entrance was left on the side opposite -the enemy, so that direct shots could not penetrate -it, the only danger on that side being from -shells exploded among the bomb proofs casting their -fragments through the doorways into our underground -domiciles. This would, after all, occasionally -occur, sometimes arousing a sleeping soldier -with a summons to another world. If one could -choose the ground where he would locate such an -underground mansion, he might make it a dry and -comfortable abode, and one that would be comparatively -healthy; but the ground assigned to the 32d -was a clay soil, rather springy, where in many places -two feet of excavation brought us to water, therefore -a part of the domicile had to be above ground; -and this was protected by inclined timbers, built -like a lean-to, with a palisade front to make it proof -against the ordinary shot and shell.</p> - -<p>There were many exciting scenes and occurrences -among the bomb proofs. Occasionally, in the middle -of the night, a solid shot or a shell would come -singing through the air and pounce down on one of -the huts where half-a-dozen soldiers were dozing -away, and the shock would startle them so that for -a short time they would hardly know whether it was -an earthquake or an attack by the enemy, but -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">226</span> -finding that the roof had not fallen in, and seeing no -danger at hand, they would usually turn over and -resume their slumbers.</p> - -<p>Within these huts we were obliged to pass our -time when off duty and, as would be naturally -expected, they proved a fruitful source of sickness.</p> - -<p>Many of our men, delirious with malarial fever, -were sent from the bomb proofs to the hospital, -where they were dosed, first with a medicine composed -largely of spirits of turpentine, next with -strong acids, and then with quinine and spirituous -liquors. If there is anything that will take the conceit -out of a man in a short space of time, it is this -malarial fever when it gets a good hold. It is wonderfully -tenacious in its grip when once it does get -hold, leaving the strong man when it must, but -never leaving the weak man while the breath of life -remains in him.</p> - -<p>On Saturday the 30th of July, the Burnside mine -as it was called, was exploded, but the result was -hardly what had been hoped and expected. There -was indeed a great panic among the enemy, but the -advance obtained for our lines was inconsiderable, -and the fear of similar incidents was not confined to -the rebel troops. Men thought and some spoke of -possible counter-mines, and to the dangers of war -which had become in some degree familiar, there -was now added another and an unpleasant possibility—of -an irresistible explosion from beneath; one -which bayonets could not repel, and from which our -bomb proofs could afford no protection. Confined to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">227</span> -unhealthy caves when not exposed to more palpable -dangers, deprived of opportunity for wholesome -exercise and limited by the circumstances in the -range of our diet, wearied by excitement and worn -down by constant new alarms, it is no wonder that -our numbers decreased nor that men were despondent.</p> - -<p>Scarcely a day passed that some were not -killed or wounded, and sickness was more effective -than gunpowder in sending men to the rear or -putting them out of the fight.</p> - -<p>Our second tour of duty in the trenches was from -the 1st to the 3d of September,—but it was in a -drier place, and we suffered comparatively little.</p> - -<p>Five weeks in the bomb proofs depleted the Regiment -as much as any whole campaign in the field -had done before, and it was with glad hearts that -we received the order to give place to a relieving -force.</p> - -<p>Surgeon Faxon of the 32d was placed in command -of the hospital of the 5th corps, near City -Point, and when the army had settled down to the -siege of Petersburg, Mrs. Faxon was ordered to the -front, and a description of the hospital and of hospital -life from her point of view will not be uninteresting. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">228</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XIX">XIX.<br /> - -<i>OUR CORPS HOSPITAL.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">IT was a bright, warm, September afternoon in -1864, when the hospital transport, on which I -was a passenger, loosed from the Seventh street -landing in Washington and steamed away down the -Potomac and out into Chesapeake Bay. So long as -daylight lasted there were many objects of interest -to occupy my eyes and thoughts, and when night -closed in, finding that sleep would be an impossibility -in the stifling heat of a state-room, I willingly resigned -myself to the idea of passing the night on deck, for -the sky was cloudless, and the full moon shone on -the wide expanse of quiet waters.</p> - -<p>The next afternoon we were steaming up the -James River, under wooded banks, by neglected -fields, past deserted plantations. Here and there -might be seen some great homestead such as -Carter’s, which had escaped destruction, standing -patriarchally among its negro quarters and numerous -outbuildings, but even these few were evidently -deserted and desolate.</p> - -<p>About sunset, having passed Harrison’s Landing, -we seemed to be approaching some great mart of -trade, so varied and bustling was the scene which -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">229</span> -presented itself to us. Beyond the masts and rigging, -and the smoke stacks and steam of the water -craft, were seen groups of tents, long ranges of -whitewashed barracks, log-huts and shanties of -every shape bearing the signs of sutlers and licensed -traders. Among these were moving uniformed -soldiers and officers, on foot and mounted, negroes -driving mule teams, negroes leading mules or -driving ambulances drawn by mules, sentries on -duty and detachments relieving guard, and over all -flags flying gaily. This was City Point, and such -the busy bustling life of the place which was the -base of supplies for the army.</p> - -<p>Landing at a wooden pier, I and my luggage -were loaded into an ambulance. Driving past General -Grant’s attractive quarters, by what must have -been pleasant homes, now occupied for army purposes, -through what had been avenues of noble trees, -which were now rows of stumps, two miles over a -rough road brought me to the depot hospital of the -5th corps.</p> - -<p>A broad drive-way led to the headquarters’ tents, -in front of which a sentinel was on duty. Three -hospital tents, each 15x17 feet, were arranged, -opening into each other, and furnished as office, -parlor, and bedroom. In front was an arbor-like -enclosure made of green reversible blinds—probably -borrowed from some “mansion”—which gave -to one inside an agreeable seclusion. The furniture -consisting of sofa, chairs, tables, mantel, hanging -shelves, bureau, wardrobe, and washstand, was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">230</span> -made of soft, unpainted, unvarnished pine of rude -construction. Cushions were made of army blankets, -and the bed, with its linen counterpane and -sheets looked tempting. The tents were floored -and in each was an open fire-place with broad -hearth-stone, which I hope did not come from the -cemetery near by.</p> - -<p>Dinner, an elaborate meal of several courses, -was speedily served in a neighboring tent, and -bore witness to what might be accomplished by -culinary skill, combined with a few pans and a -stove, in a space four feet square. We were hardly -seated when, at what proved to be its accustomed -hour, a band commenced to discourse a programme -of excellent music. Thus cheerfully my life on the -Appomattox began.</p> - -<p>The broad drive by which I had entered the camp -was the street upon which were quartered all the -officers, the assistant surgeons occupying tents on -the same line with ours and on each side.</p> - -<p>At right angles to this were streets formed by the -tents of the patients, nurses, and servants. The -central street, directly opposite the headquarters, -was wider than the others, and in the middle of it -was the dispensary. Three tents, 15x17 each, opening -one into another, extended from street to street. -In each tent were six beds, by each of which a little -table held basin and towel. Along the front of the -tents were plank walks, and above on a framework -of posts and rails were spread branches of trees to -furnish shelter from the sun. Across the farther end -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">231</span> -of the streets were the mess tents, seven in number, -supplied with tables, etc., for the meals of the convalescents. -Beyond them was the diet kitchen, five -tents, and behind them the quarters of the cooks. -On one border of the hospital camp were the tents -for the nurses (soldiers) and for the Sanitary Commission, -and at the opposite extremity, under a -group of persimmon trees, were accommodations for -the military guard of one hundred men. In one -corner was the property room—a log-house in -which, carefully arranged, labelled, and registered, -were the effects of those who died, and on the outer -limit were the negro quarters, stables, etc.</p> - -<p>In the rear of our street and parallel to it was -another, through which a railroad track was laid, -and there, after a battle, I have seen many car-loads -of wounded men brought in, lying on the floors of -rough cars, into which they had been loaded from -the field of action. All grimy with the heat, dust -and wounds of battle, they were placed upon -stretchers, and by the convalescents and nurses -were carried to the dainty beds. They were first -washed and put to bed, then supplied with food and -drink, then visited by the surgeons, assistants, and -nurses.</p> - -<p>The arrangements for cooking were, of course, -upon a very large scale. Huge coppers were used -for boiling, and brick ovens for baking. In one of -the latter three barrels of beans could be cooked for -the Sunday dinner.</p> - -<p>A little Scotch woman, Miss Duncan, was in -charge of this diet kitchen, having a number of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">232</span> -men under her direction; no time was frittered away, -a perfect system was maintained, and the men submitted -meekly to her despotic sway. I have seen a -six-foot man rush for sand and mop, to erase an -accidental spot of grease before it should be discovered -by her sharp eyes. Everything under her -<i>régime</i> was a miracle of neatness and economy. -The pans were kept shining and arranged in regular -order on the shelves, and the store-room was -dazzlingly neat. The smallest number of rations -issued from her kitchen was 5,000 per diem, and -she has sent out as many as 15,000 in one day. -Nothing was wasted; the surgeon was bright -enough to secure beef of the best quality, and even -hoofs and tails supplied fine jelly and excellent -soups, and what could not be used directly was sent -to feed the swine at the piggery.</p> - -<p>The negro camp was filled with families of contrabands -who had found their way within our lines. -These were served with rations, and drawn upon for -such assistance as they were competent to give. The -women washed for the hospital, and the men did all -sorts of rough work. Sleeping from ten to thirty in one -tent, they lived by day out of doors, and negroes of -all ages and all colors basked in the sun or hugged -the fires, or rolled about in the dirt. Many of the -children came in with only one article of clothing, -and that very commonly was a coffee bag with a -hole for the head to go through. One old woman -said that she came in because she had heard that -“the champagne was a-goan to open.” Rough as -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">233</span> -they fared to our eyes, it was evident they had never -lived in such sybaritic luxury before.</p> - -<p>Every part of the extensive camp was swept daily; -neatness was the order everywhere. The precision -and beauty of the routine, and the exactness which -followed discipline, spoiled me for civil life at home -afterward, for I craved that system, punctuality, and -order which cannot be found except under military -rule.</p> - -<p>Passing down the walks in front of the patients’ -tents, their thin white faces claimed one’s pity, but -there was comfort in seeing here, within hearing of -the droning voice of the cannon and the tearing -sound of musketry, that the victims of the battle -found a quiet place to rest, where, lying in the soft -air and bounteous sunlight, carefully nursed and -daintily fed, their wounds might be healed and their -ills abated before they were again to be plunged -into the chaos of war.</p> - -<p>In the winter many of the tents were replaced by -log houses, and some of these became charming -cottages, having many conveniences. Around my -house was a little garden with a tiny fence, and oats -were sown in the beds to form ornamented borders, -in which all the corps badges were represented.</p> - -<p>But with the spring all this was to disappear; the -army moving forward to final victory, and the <i>impedimenta</i> -like myself, going back to civil or civilized -tameness in the cold North. But even now I have -but to shut my eyes as my neighbor, the old army -bugler, practices the calls in the clear winter air, -and again returns the memory of those days. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">234</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XX">XX.<br /> - -<i>ABOUT PETERSBURG.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">SUCH portions of the army as were not stationed -in the trenches were called upon frequently to -repel attacks, and occasionally were sent out on -expeditions to destroy railroads, or otherwise to interfere -with the enemy’s supplies, and to weaken his -lines. One of these was the action on the Weldon -railroad, August 18th, in which we lost thirteen -men. Another led to the battle of Peeble’s Farm, -September 30th, 1864.</p> - -<p>The expeditionary force was composed of the 5th -and 9th Corps, and the movement was as usual off -to the left. After marching three miles our brigade -was in front of Fort McRee, and the men were -ordered to lie down in the edge of a piece of woods -until the remainder of the attacking force could be -posted. The 32d Massachusetts was directly in -front of the fort, the 4th Michigan on the right, and -on the left a brigade of new troops, which however -took no part in the attack.</p> - -<p>It was about three o’clock in the afternoon when -the order for the advance was given, and we moved -out into an open field, finding ourselves, perhaps -half a mile distant from the fort and the line of the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">235</span> -breastworks of the enemy. Their batteries opened -upon us promptly, but old soldiers know that it is -not the great guns that are most to be feared, and -our line moved steadily on until it came within rifle -range of the rebel works and the small arms began -their deadly work; then the order for double quick -was given and the men, sure that the faster they -moved the less was their risk, dashed forward with -alacrity and in a few moments closed upon the lines -of the enemy. Colonel Edmands in this charge -was disabled by a wound in his leg below the knee. -Colonel Welch, of the 4th Michigan, while in the -act of urging his horse over the first defences, fell -mortally wounded upon the breastworks.</p> - -<p>The first to mount the earthworks was a captain -of “ours“; he stood long enough to swing his -sword above his head and shouted “come on -boys, we’ve got ‘em”—then dropped inside closely -followed by two other officers; one of them had -jumped the ditch and the other having jumped into -it, scrambled out with the assistance of his men. -When these three officers with one soldier mounted -the parapet, its defenders were still firing, but when -they were inside, the fort was captured. Surrounded -by our troops, they knew that if four men -could get in in spite of them, the rest would follow, -and soldiers quickly learn to know when the day is -lost and to submit gracefully to the misfortune of -war. In the fort we made forty prisoners, of whom -eighteen were officers, and captured one piece of -artillery—minus the horses—which the gunners -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">236</span> -managed to cut loose and run away, although not -without a struggle.</p> - -<p>As we gained these the first of their works, the -enemy retired to his second line of defences and the -prisoners being speedily secured, we pushed on -with the rest to the attack. At the inner line there -was some close work where bayonets and butts of -rifles came into use, but there was no great resistance, -for the enemy were badly demoralized and -our chief interest centered in an effort to capture one -of their colors. The bearer was a tall and vigorous -man, but one of our comrades, a gallant young fellow, -grappled the bearer and secured the flag. Just as -he turned to escape with his prize, one of the rebels -with a musket tripped our man, who fell, still clinging -to the staff, but at the same moment the stalwart -standard-bearer grasped the flag, broke the lance -and bore away his flag, leaving the northman only -the wrong end of the stick.</p> - -<p>After carrying the second line, our division was -halted and left resting on their arms while the 9th -Corps passed into the front and followed the routed -forces. They were however soon met by a force -which proved too strong for them, and after a short -struggle were in their turn driven backward, losing -all that they had gained and threatening to cause -confusion in the whole line, but our General (Griffin, -called “old Griff” for short) seeing the danger and -having unlimited faith in his command, threw the -division into the pathway of the rebels, now flushed -with hope of final victory, and with a few volleys -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">237</span> -checked them and turned the tide again; darkness -closed upon the fight and the field was ours. We -called the battle that of Peeble’s farm, because it -was fought upon the lands of General and Colonel -Peebles, two officers of the Confederate army. The -fort was afterward named Fort Welch in honor of -the gallant Colonel who had baptized it with his -blood.</p> - -<p>After the fort was captured and the men disarmed, -the fight raged for a time along the line, and the -Confederate prisoners huddled together under the -breastworks for protection from the missiles which -were still uncomfortably numerous, and which they -had no further occasion to brave.</p> - -<p>While thus situated, a large number of men of our -brigade swarmed in at the entrance of the fort, and -one of their officers, a captain of a Maine regiment, -rushing up to a squad of the prisoners, pistol in -hand, fired, shooting one of them in the head. It -is charitable to presume that the captain was blinded -with the excitement of the fight, but he narrowly -escaped a similar fate himself before his brother -officers hurried him away; and it is likely he may -never forget the shouts of opprobrium and the -epithets of ignominy which the deed provoked from -the Union men who witnessed his cowardly or reckless -act.</p> - -<p>When the battle commenced, and as we moved to -the assault, the brigade of new troops which was -posted on our left was deployed to protect that -flank, and no doubt thought that their time had -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">238</span> -come. The roar of the battle was in their ears, and -the sight of killed and maimed was before their -eyes for the first time, and as is commonly the case -with raw men at such times, they did not set much -store on property; and so finding themselves cumbered -with well-crammed knapsacks and new and -heavy overcoats, they threw them off to improve their -fighting trim. As the veterans came out of the fight -and saw such wealth scattered about, no doubt some -of them seized the occasion to better themselves, by -exchanging old for new, and for some days afterwards -the new men were apt to claim as their own -every new overcoat worn by any of our men; but -in the army the fashions of dress are so similar that -it is not easy to see any difference between one -man’s coat and another’s, and so our Johnny Raws -had to put their losses down to the debit of experience -account and draw new clothing for that “lost -in battle.”</p> - -<p>The experience of this day was a very cheering -one to the troops engaged; we had had our enemy “on -the hip” and kept him trotting, and we felt that it -might be what indeed it proved—the beginning of -a chase which should tire him in the end.</p> - -<p>The 9th Massachusetts Regiment did not reënlist, -and when their three years’ term of service expired, -their reënlisted men and late recruits were transferred -to the 32d. On the 26th of October the -enlisted men of the 18th and 22d, whose time of -service did not expire with that of their regiments, -were also added to our battalion, increasing its numbers -so largely as to require the organization of two -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">239</span> -new companies, L and M, the officers for which -were transferred with the men. Thus the Regiment -was now composed of twelve companies, and its -parades exhibited a front which two years before -would have been respectable for a brigade.</p> - -<p>By general orders of October 26th, a reorganization -of our division was effected, by which we were -transferred to the third brigade, which was then -composed entirely of veteran regiments.</p> - -<p>On the 6th of December, 1864, we were, as we -supposed, established in winter quarters, on the -Jerusalem plank road, in a dry and healthy location, -when orders came for a movement, and we -regretfully abandoned our improvements and took -up a line of march along the plank road.</p> - -<p>We marched three miles that afternoon and -bivouacked by the wayside. The next morning, -early, we started again toward our destination, of -which we knew nothing, except that our haversack -rations meant three days of absence, and the forty -rounds in our cartridge boxes implied no expectation -of big fighting. After marching twelve miles the -command was massed at the bank of the Nottoway -River, which we crossed about midnight and yet -moved on. At daylight we were at Sussex Court -House, and at three in the afternoon reached what -proved to be our objective—the line of the Weldon -Railroad, five miles from Jarratt’s Station.</p> - -<p>Here we rested until dark, when the men were -ranged out along the railway and set to work to -destroy it. First the rails were removed; then the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">240</span> -sleepers were taken up, piled and fired; when the -rails, laid across the burning ties, were heated so -as to be pliable, they were doubled and twisted in -such manner that they could not be relaid unless -rerolled. Then the same operation was repeated -on another length of track until several miles in all -were ruined. It was a long day’s work, and we -bivouacked the second night along the road-bed, -making our coffee at the smouldering fires.</p> - -<p>On the 10th we started on the return march, and -although it was raining and very muddy, we made -twenty miles that day, reaching a bivouac near -Sussex Court House. The next day we passed over -the Nottoway, and on the 12th reached the Jerusalem -road, and went into camp within a half-mile of -the spot we had left to make the excursion which -has been described. Here again we built dug-outs -and huts, in which we were allowed to remain until -the early spring.</p> - -<p>On the return march the men did considerable -foraging on their own account. A goose, a chicken, -a turkey or duck, seemed to be a part of the men’s -equipment. One squad captured a little pony, harnessed -him to a sulky, and loaded the sulky with -their knapsacks and live stock. One man appeared -under a stove-pipe hat, but it didn’t wear well. At -night, sweet potatoes, sorghum molasses, and apple-jack, -were abundant in the camp.</p> - -<p>Our enlisted men were not apt to be damaged by -the over-supply of spirituous liquors. The sale of -them was strictly forbidden, and when a sutler was -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">241</span> -detected as implicated in the trade, his entire stock -of all kinds of merchandise was confiscated, and in -some cases distributed among the near-by soldiers.</p> - -<p>Whiskey was used as a medicine, but its value as -such is problematical. As a restorative for men -exhausted by labor or by battle, it has, no doubt, a -good effect, but it should not be given until the work -is done or the battle fought. It would have been a -great advantage to the army if the commissioned -officers had not been able to obtain supplies, for -Dutch courage is a poor substitute for the real thing, -and a clear head is even more important to him who -commands than to him who has only to obey.</p> - -<p>On the Weldon Railroad expedition, some of the -men, by a mysterious instinct, discovered several barrels -of apple-jack which had been concealed under a -stack of hay, and many of the canteens were filled -with spirit by the soldiers as they passed. Several -of these, overcome by their potations, fell out -of the line of our outward march, and probably -to sleep off the fumes, stretched themselves out -upon the broad veranda of a planter’s house. On -the return march they were found there with their -throats cut—dead—and the murder was avenged -by the burning of the house. No doubt many more -suffered for their excess by imprisonment in Southern -barracoons.</p> - -<p>The New Year of 1865 found the Regiment in -log huts near the Jerusalem plank-road, a mile in -the rear of our works before Petersburg, on swampy -ground. The two wings of the battalion alternated -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">242</span> -in fatigue duty, building, extending, or strengthening -works, the labor continuing day and night.</p> - -<p>Suddenly on the afternoon of February 4, 1865, -orders came to move the next morning (Sunday), -at daylight. The general impression was that there -was to be another raid on the railroad connections of -the enemy, and the camp huts were left standing. -At daylight on the 5th, the column started and sunset -found us near to Nottoway Court House. We -were ordered out on picket, but were recalled about -midnight and marched until dawn, when we were -at Hatcher’s run—the point where that stream is -crossed by the Vaughn road.</p> - -<p>The day before, the 2d Corps had been engaged -with the enemy here, and the 32d was posted in -some rifle pits on the further side of the Run, out of -which the rebel forces had been driven. Our Regiment -was the extreme right of the 5th Corps, and -on its right connected with the left of the 2d Corps -across the stream. About 2 o’clock P. M., Crawford’s -division advanced from the left, moved across our -front and encountered the enemy; two hours later -our brigade was put in by General Warren to fill a -gap in Crawford’s line, and the contest was sharp -until about dusk, when the onset of a fresh body of -the enemy drove back Crawford’s command in some -confusion. The locality of the action was in a -thick wood of pines where we could not see to any -great distance, and as our part of the line held on, -we found ourselves with the 155th Pennsylvania -quite alone and flanked on both sides. It required -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">243</span> -considerable coolness and some sharp fighting to -enable us to get back to the original line of battle, -and our losses in doing so were heavy—74 in killed, -wounded, and missing; included in which number -was Major Shepard, who was made prisoner while -commanding the brigade line of skirmishers, and -Captain Bowdlear severely wounded. The action -we named that of Dabney’s Mills.</p> - -<p>Until the 11th we remained in the same position. -The weather was very cold and stormy, and the -enemy’s artillery at times very annoying, but no -infantry attack was made. On the 11th the corps -changed its line slightly, and we soon had a camp -more comfortable than that we left on the Jerusalem -road. Here we remained digging and picketing -until we started out on the final campaign.</p> - -<p>In the action of the 6th, Major Shepard commanded -the skirmish line in front of our brigade. -When Crawford advanced across our front, the -pickets became useless and the Major proceeded -to call them in and to join the brigade. While -marching to the left, as he supposed in the rear of -the Union line of battle, he happened into the gap -which had just been made in Crawford’s command -by a Confederate charge, and he suddenly found -himself in the rear of the enemy; at the same -moment he was struck in the head by a musket ball, -which had just force enough to stretch him senseless -on the ground. The Major recovered to find -himself an object of interest to a half-dozen rebel -stragglers, one of whom exchanged hats with him, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">244</span> -another borrowed his nice overcoat, while others -contented themselves with his various equipments. -Perhaps Shepard did not recover full consciousness -until the moment when one of the plunderers ordered -him to take off and yield up his boots. But -this was the feather too much. Those boots were -new, elegant, and costly, and the Major made a -stand in and for them, replying to all threats by the -declaration that they couldn’t have the boots, and -that he preferred death to the loss of them.</p> - -<p>How the affair might have ended we cannot say, -had not an officer appeared in sight, to whom the -Major formally surrendered himself; but thereupon -the stragglers left him with his boots and his life to -boot, and both have given him much contentment -since that day. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">245</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2 id="XXI">XXI.<br /> - -<i>THE LAST CAMPAIGN.</i></h2> - -<p class="drop">THE month of March is really a spring month -in the latitude of southern Virginia, and out -of the attending frosts and thaws, storms, mists, -and bright days which make up the winter there, we -had come to the time when the buds were breaking -out into greenness, and when even within sound of -the great guns, the venturesome birds would sing the -lays of spring.</p> - -<p>The whole army was inspired with the feeling -that the last campaign was about to open, and that -the triumph of the Union cause must be at hand.</p> - -<p>For six weeks we had been established in our -huts, when on the 29th day of March, early in the -morning, we bade good-bye to our village camp, -and with the 5th Corps moved out to the rear and -left. The weather was warm and as the march proceeded, -personal property in the way of clothing, -which had been valuable in the winter season, and -convenient in the camp, began to increase in weight -and to decrease rapidly in value. As the men realized -that we were off this time in earnest, they -began to shed their surplus clothing. The roads -were difficult and the march toilsome. At every -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">246</span> -halt loads were lightened, and spare blankets, overcoats, -shelters, etc., strewed the line of march, until -by nightfall all were in light marching trim.</p> - -<p>In the absence of Colonel Edmunds, disabled by -sickness, and Major Shepard, prisoner of war, -the Regiment to the end of the campaign was -commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Cunningham, -assisted by Captain Bancroft as acting major.</p> - -<p>The direction of our march finally led us toward -the Boydtown plank-road, near which in the afternoon -the 1st and 2d brigades of our division -became hotly engaged, and ours (the 3d,) was put -in position in a low, level, and swampy field. During -the night it set in to rain with that ease and abundance -which seems to be characteristic of the climate, -and we passed a thoroughly uncomfortable night, -during which men thought regretfully of the -blankets and rubber sheets which they had thrown -away during the previous day.</p> - -<p>Through Thursday the 30th the rain continued, -but about noon the 32d was deployed in front as -skirmishers, with orders to feel for the enemy—feeling -for him in the sloppy weather, we found -him behind some log breastworks, from which -we rooted him out and pushed him a short distance -backward. But the enemy in his turn got to -be pressing, and our ammunition becoming scarce, -we were in our turn pushed back to our starting -point. The Confederates even charged the line -of our corps, but were repulsed with considerable -loss. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">247</span></p> - -<p>Late in the afternoon, with replenished cartridge -boxes, we reoccupied the log breastworks, and -being ordered to feel forward again, did so. This -time it was a fort and an open field with too much -artillery for comfort, but we got up close, burrowed, -and held on. It seems that we had reached around -to the extreme right of Lee’s line of works for the -defence of Petersburg, and hereafter we were to be -free of these inconvenient obstructions to our way.</p> - -<p>Friday, March 31st, at 5 A. M., we were -relieved by the 2d Corps, and moved off again to -the left, where General Warren posted the divisions -of his corps, in <i>echelon</i> a little west of the Boydtown -road. The ground, owing to the long rain, was -in a condition very unfavorable to any movement, -and our formation was hardly completed when the -2d and 3d divisions, (Crawford’s and Ayer’s,) were -attacked and driven back with some loss, but our -division (the 1st,) held its position, and the 2d and -3d coming into line with us, the whole corps, preceded -by a strong skirmish line, again advanced and -pressed the rebels hard.</p> - -<p>Captain Lauriat commanding four companies of -the 32d was in the line of skirmishers, and seized -the opportunity, as the lines closed, to draw off on -the flank, and through a bit of wood got into the -rear of the enemy’s skirmishers and stampeded -them. So rapid was our advance that at one spot -we captured the enemy’s dinner of bacon, as also a -number of guns in stacks.</p> - -<p>Our corps was now the extreme left of the Union -army. Sheridan, with the cavalry, was farther to -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">248</span> -the left, but entirely detached; he had been attacked -and pretty roughly handled, and considerable alarm -was felt for his safety. During the afternoon our -brigade, under Colonel Pearson, of the 155th Pennsylvania, -was sent out to the left to reconnoitre and, -if possible, to reinforce Sheridan. Entirely surrounded -by skirmishers the brigade moved off to the -left, but, although constantly gaining ground, their -movement was so retarded by the brisk resistance of -the enemy’s skirmishers, that it was dusk before he -was driven over Gravelly Run, and the next morning -we learned that Sheridan was all right.</p> - -<p>April 1st, 1865.—Before eight o’clock this morning -the 5th Corps was again in connection with the -cavalry Corps, and both were placed under the orders -of General Sheridan. In fact, for the ensuing eight -days, we became a sort of foot cavalry—if there be -any such arm known to the service.</p> - -<p>It was afternoon before there seemed to be any -real resistance to our onward progress, but then -there was the sound of heavy firing in front, and we -soon came upon what was to be the field of the -battle of Five Forks. The cavalry, dismounted, -were sharply prodding the enemy with artillery and -carbines, and the 5th Corps was brought up and -formed on their right, and pushed rapidly forward.</p> - -<p>We found no enemy in our front, but soon discovered -that we had passed beyond the line of his -formation; whereupon, by a wheel to the left and a -rapid dash, we came in upon his flank and rear, -surprising, overwhelming, and entirely routing his -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">249</span> -forces, more than one-half of whom were made -prisoners. The fighting was sharp but short, and -our success complete.</p> - -<p>It is impossible to overrate the exhilaration of the -men in and after this action. With small loss to -themselves, they had taken four or five thousand -prisoners, and the ground was strewn with the arms -and equipments which the enemy had thrown away -in his hasty attempt at flight. The feeling was -general that now, at last, the superior numbers and -power of the North were beginning to tell, the -days of digging and burrowing were over, and the -day of triumph near at hand.</p> - -<p>That night, by order of General Sheridan, General -Warren was relieved, and General Griffin (our -“Old Griff“) was placed in command of the 5th -Corps. It is not easy to see what default in duty -could have been ascribed to Warren, and it is probable -that the real explanation of the change was -merely Sheridan’s preference or partiality for Griffin, -who was patterned more after Sheridan’s taste.</p> - -<p>That night, too, Colonel Cunningham was placed -in command of a brigade of skirmishers, consisting -of one regiment from each brigade in the 1st Division, -with orders to deploy them at eight o’clock the -next morning, and advance directly west. The 32d -was, of course, one of these regiments, and its command -devolved upon Captain Bancroft.</p> - -<p>April 2d, Sunday.—Promptly at eight o’clock, -while the dull muttering of the great guns told us -of the last struggle far away in front of Petersburg, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">250</span> -Cunningham deployed his brigade of skirmishers -under the eye of General Sheridan, and we moved -on, up hill and down dale, for the most part through -a region covered with woods and but little inhabited.</p> - -<p>Moving west, as ordered, we came at 11 A. M. to -the South Side Railroad, where we captured a train -filled with wounded and sick Confederates, and -also gobbled up a large number of sound rebels -and quantities of army stores, and then pressed on, -still westward, for two miles farther.</p> - -<p>From women and from our prisoners, information -was obtained to the effect that the remains of two -divisions of the enemy had passed in this direction -on their retreat from Five Forks, and also that General -Lee, with the Army of Virginia, was then moving -out of Petersburg and heading towards the -south; and, indeed, we could plainly see the clouds -of dust which marked their line of march. This -information was communicated to General Sheridan, -but at 4 P. M. we were drawn back to the railroad -and thence marched eight miles in the direction of -Petersburg, and there bivouacked for the night.</p> - -<p>The next five days were occupied in a most exciting -chase. Sheridan’s command, consisting of the -5th Corps and the cavalry, entirely detached from -the army, was hastening to bar Lee’s line of retreat. -On the 3d and 4th we marched twenty miles each -day; abandoned wagons, forges, guns, and caissons -were seen quite frequently. By our seizing the railway -at Jettersville on the 4th, Lee lost the only -railroad line by which his escape could be facilitated. -On the 8th we marched all the day and half -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">251</span> -of the night to bivouac near Pamplin’s Station, on -the South Side Railroad.</p> - -<p>Sunday morning, April 9th, 1865, Lee made a -last and desperate attempt to escape by cutting his -way through the lines of the cavalry. We broke -camp after only two hours rest, and after three hours -of forced marching in the direction of brisk artillery -firing, came up to the right and rear of the -cavalry, who had been pressed back for some distance -by Lee’s attack. At the sight of the bayonets -of our approaching corps the Confederates ceased -their attempt, and withdrew to their lines of the -morning.</p> - -<p>It was the good fortune of the 32d Regiment to -be that day at the head of the column. The day -was fine but not uncomfortably warm; the men in -the best of spirits, fully imbued with the feeling that -the end was near. In this our last fight the conditions -were unusually favorable for infantry movements, -the country rolling but open, and covered -with grassy turf.</p> - -<p>A change of direction to the right brought us out -of the road and into an open field of pasture-land -which rose before us on a gentle slope for nearly -half a mile. Entering this field, and without a halt, -the Regiment formed column of companies, then -formed divisions, and then deployed on the rear -division. No battalion movement was ever executed -more precisely or with lines better dressed. Waiting -a moment for the other regiments of the brigade -to complete their formation, we saw before us the -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">252</span> -swell of land on which we stood, and beyond, on -higher ground, the enemy’s artillery, with infantry -supports, in line of battle. It was a glorious sight—the -beauty of the spring morning—the gentle -movement of the air—the rich garniture of green -which everywhere clad the view—all were exhilarating, -while the universal conviction that the -enemy, now in full sight, was also within our power, -inspired the men with such enthusiasm as made -every man to feel himself invincible.</p> - -<p>Soon came the order, “Forward.” The colors -never came more promptly to the front, and the -right and left general guides fairly sprang to their -positions. The enemy being in full sight no skirmishers -preceded us. The advance was made -under a sharp artillery fire, the men stepping out -with a full thirty-six inch stride. The enemy’s front -line was slowly falling back. At the summit of the -rising ground, where we received a few stray rifle -shots, we could see that the ground fell off for perhaps -six hundred yards, to where a little stream—one -of the head waters of the Appomattox—ran -winding along. Here, just as we expected to receive -the volleys of the enemy, his firing suddenly ceased, -and a halt was ordered.</p> - -<p>Colonel Cunningham, through his field-glass, seeing -what seemed to be a flag of truce in our front, -took the adjutant with him, and, putting spurs to -their horses, they dashed forward, and soon met a -mounted officer attended by an orderly, bearing a -small white flag upon a staff. This officer announced -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">253</span> -himself as one of General Lee’s staff, and said that -he was the bearer of a message to General Grant -with a view to surrender. The flag was duly -reported, and very soon an officer representing General -Grant appeared, and the colonel and adjutant -retired.</p> - -<p>Soon the expected surrender of Lee was known -through all our lines, and the hearts of all were -joyous and gay—perfectly so, except for a shade of -regret that we could not have finished a fight which -promised so well for us.</p> - -<p>The two commanding generals met about eleven -o’clock in a small house a little way off to our right -and front. Our corps was in line by divisions -closed in mass, the orders being to keep the men -well in hand; but the general talk was that the war -was over, and that we should soon turn the heads of -our columns north.</p> - -<p>At 2.30 P. M. we knew that the surrender was a -fact, and that it would be officially promulgated at 4 -P. M.</p> - -<p>Meantime was a season of general and heartfelt -mutual congratulations, during which it was noticed -that General Gregory’s brigade was forming square, -off on the near hillside, and several officers of our -brigade mounted and rode over to see what was -going on.</p> - -<p>Brigadier-General Gregory had a gift for prayer -and speech, and also a resonant voice. From the -centre of his square he made a rousing good speech -of congratulation, and then, calling to prayer, commenced -a hearty thanksgiving to God for the success -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">254</span> -which had attended our arms, and for the reasonable -hope of an early return to peaceful homes.</p> - -<p>Just then, miles away to our left, a detachment of -General Fitz Hugh Lee’s cavalry, having sighted a -Union supply train—being very hungry and not -knowing of the truce, pitched into the escort with -artillery and carbines, and the boom, boom, boom -of his guns smote upon the ear of Gregory. The -general ceased abruptly, listened, and again boom, -boom, boom came the sound well known to his -practiced ear, and then again his voice rang out: -“Never mind the rest, men—reduce square—form -brigade line;” and in three minutes all were ready -for action.</p> - -<p>The official order came at four o’clock, and after -a pretty lively evening we were glad to be at rest in -bivouac.</p> - -<p>April 10th.—A very quiet, restful day; the officers -and men of the two armies making and returning -visits. The officers of our Regiment, with others of -the division, attended General Chamberlain in calls -of courtesy upon General Lee and other officers of -the surrendered forces. The Confederates were -entirely out of rations and, although we were also -short by reason of our rapid advance and the woful -condition of the roads, our men readily assented to -divide the contents of their haversacks with the -soldiers who had so long been their enemy, and -throughout the day the officers and men of the two -armies were to be seen thoroughly commingled. -Confederate States currency was to be had by the -bushel. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">255</span></p> - -<p>April 11th was the day appointed for the formal -surrender of the arms. General Chamberlain, commanding -our division, was detailed in charge of the -ceremony, and our brigade was ordered to receive -the arms of the rebel infantry.</p> - -<p>At 9 A. M. the brigade was formed in line on a -road leading from our camp to that of the Confederates, -its right in the direction of the latter. The -32d Massachusetts was the extreme right of the -brigade. The Confederate troops came up by -brigades at route step, arms-at-will. In some regiments -the colors were rolled tightly to the staff, but -in others the bearers flourished them defiantly as -they marched. As they approached our line, our -men stood at shouldered arms, the lines were carefully -dressed, and eyes front; seeing which, and -appreciating the compliment implied, some of the -enemy’s brigadiers closed up their ranks, and so -moved along our front with their arms at the shoulder. -Their files marched past until their right reached -to our left, when they halted, fronted facing us, -stacked their arms, hung their accoutrements upon -the rifles, and then the colorbearer of each regiment -laid his colors across the stacks, and the -brigade, breaking to its rear, gave room for the next -to come up in its place, and each successive brigade -observed the same order of proceeding, upon the -same ground.</p> - -<p>As the first brigade moved away, a detail of our -men took the stacks as they stood, and moved them -up nearer to our line, and the arms from the stacks -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">256</span> -of each succeeding brigade were taken by the same -detail and piled around the first stacks; so that -when the ceremony was ended there was but one -line of stacks, with the equipments and colors hanging -or lying thereupon.</p> - -<p>Throughout the whole our men behaved nobly—not -only was there no cheering or exultation, but -there was, on the contrary, a feeling of deep soldierly -sympathy for their gallant enemy, which -evinced itself in respectful silence, and this conduct -was appreciated and warmly commended by many -of the rebel officers.</p> - -<p>It was 4 P. M. before the surrender was completed, -and the rest of the day and evening was -given up to jovial congratulations among ourselves.</p> - -<p>After the surrender we were employed for some -days in guarding the railroads and public property; -and then started for Washington; which we reached -by easy marches, and on the 12th of May pitched -our last camp on Arlington Heights. With the -Army of the Potomac we passed in review before -the President, on the 22d of May, and on the 29th -of June started for home. At Philadelphia and -again at Providence we were refreshed by the hospitality -of the citizens, and about noon of July 1st we -arrived in Boston, marching directly to the Common, -where the men were furloughed until the 6th.</p> - -<p>On the 6th of July the command again assembled -on Boston Common, and proceeded to Gallops -Island, where, on the 11th July, 1865, it was paid -off and mustered out of service, and the 32d Massachusetts -Infantry was no more. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">257</span></p> - -<p>Only a narrow strip of water in the bay divides -the two islands where were passed its first days and -its last.</p> - -<p>It was a noble battalion, one which won alike the -compliments of its generals, and the confidence of -its associate regiments. No officer’s life was ever -sacrificed because of any want of steadiness of the -men, and more than once they executed tactical -movements under fire, in a manner that would have -been creditable if done on parade. During and -since the war great <i>esprit du corps</i> has been characteristic -of its soldiers. Many of them have -attained to prominence in the walks of peaceful life, -to the great rejoicing of their comrades, and many -have made their final march.—God give them rest -in peace.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The extreme length of service in the Regiment -was three years, seven months, and twenty-five days.</p> - -<p>The total number of officers commissioned in the -Regiment was 75, of whom 34 were at one time or -another reported among the casualties, namely:</p> - -<table> - <tr> - <td>Killed or mortally wounded,</td> - <td class="tdr">5</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Died of disease contracted in the service,</td> - <td class="tdr">2</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Wounded and returned to duty,</td> - <td class="tdr">17</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Discharged for disability,</td> - <td class="tdr">10</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="i2">Total.</td> - <td class="bt tdr">34</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p>The total number of men enlisted was 2,286, of -whom 520 were at some time non-commissioned -officers, and 60 received commissions. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">258</span></p> - -<table> - <tr> - <td colspan="2">There were—</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Killed in battle,</td> - <td class="tdr">76</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Died of wounds or disease,</td> - <td class="tdr">194</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>Discharged for disability,</td> - <td class="tdr">384</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="i2">Total loss to the Regiment by casualties,</td> - <td class="bt tdr">654</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p>This total does not include the number of men -wounded who returned to duty; nor of those, some -200 more, who died in captivity or by the roadside -in severe marches, who are included in the returns -among the unaccounted for, missing, and deserters.</p> - -<p>The number discharged at the expiration of their -service was 1,087.</p> - -<p>Of the 37 commissioned officers who were included -in the final muster out of the Regiment, all except -seven were promoted from the ranks. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">259</span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> -<div class="table"> -<h2 id="Roster_at_the_Expiration_of_Service"><span class="smcap">Roster at the Expiration of Service.</span></h2> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Colonel</span>:<br /> - -J. CUSHING EDMANDS, <i>Brevet Brig. General</i>.</h3> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Lieutenant Colonel</span>:<br /> - -JAMES A. CUNNINGHAM, <i>Brevet Brig. General</i>.</h3> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Major</span>:<br /> - -EDWARD O. SHEPARD, <i>Brevet Lieut. Colonel</i>.</h3> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Adjutant</span>:<br /> - -<span class="smcap">Captain</span> ISAAC F. KINGSBURY.</h3> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Surgeon</span>:<br /> - -SAMUEL W. FLETCHER.</h3> - -<h3><span class="smcap">Assistant Surgeon</span>:<br /> - -<span class="smcap">JOHN McGREGOR.</span></h3> - -<dl> -<dt>Co. A.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, John E. Tidd.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, Abner E. Drury.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>,</dd> - -<dt>Co. B.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, Ambrose Bancroft, <i>Brevet Major</i>.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, Joseph P. Robinson.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, William F. Taft.</dd> - -<dt>Co. C.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, Timothy McCartney, <i>Brevet Major</i>.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, George A. Batchelder.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, William F. Tuttle. -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">260</span></dd> - -<dt>Co. D.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>,</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, Loring Burrill, commanding Co.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, Charles N. Gardner.</dd> - -<dt>Co. E.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>,</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, Stephen C. Phinney, comd’g Co.</dd> -<dd><i>2nd Lieut.</i>,</dd> - -<dt>Co. F.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, John A. Bowdlear.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, Asa L. Kneeland.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>,</dd> - -<dt>Co. G.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, George W. Lauriat, <i>Brevet Major</i>.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, Jos. S. Wyman, Capt. not must’d.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, Charles H. Bartlett.</dd> - -<dt>Co. H.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, William E. Reed.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, Augustus A. Coburn.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>,</dd> - -<dt>Co. I.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, Isaac W. Smith.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, James H. Clapp.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, James W. King.</dd> - -<dt>Co. K.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, George A. Hall.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, James P. Wade.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>,</dd> - -<dt>Co. L.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, James E. March.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, George H. Ackerman.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>,</dd> - -<dt>Co. M.</dt> -<dd><i>Captain</i>, Charles H. Smith.</dd> -<dd><i>1st Lieut.</i>, Thomas Coos.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, Lyndon Y. Jenness.</dd> - -<dt>Unattached and not mustered:</dt> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, Dwight B. Graves.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, Charles E. Madden.</dd> -<dd><i>2d Lieut.</i>, Edward Knights.</dd> -</dl> -</div> - -<div class="transnote"> -<h3>Transcriber’s Note:</h3> - -<p>Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of the Thirty-second -Regiment, Massachusetts Infant, by Francis J. 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