USA > Illinois > Yates phalanx : the history of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Veteran Infantry in the war of the rebellion, 1861-1865 > Part 9
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and left of a little village called Kernstown. All around there were patches of timber in which the enemy concealed themselves as much as possible. Their main force seemed to be in the edge of a wood on a hill, northwest of the town. Most of our force was on a ridge northeast of the town. The rebels opened fire on our Regiment from a battery in front, but few shells reached us. They then moved to the left and nearer, and the shells burst thick and fast around us. Two cannon came to our rescue, and soon silenced the rebel guns. We now moved to the left, and took position close to the enemy, so as to command their position, and they immediately drew back.
"About five o'clock we hear a heavy roll of musketry, and another, and another in quick succession, then one continued roar and crash, and the smoke rises thick above the trees where the battle is raging. The roar and smoke continued without abatement, but it moves farther and farther off, and we conclude our forces are driving the enemy. As night comes on we see the flash of the guns, as the messengers of death fly fast from line to line, and as the darkness increases, the noise dies away, until it ceases altogether. We lie down on the field with our guns beside us, not knowing when we may be called upon to renew the conflict. All night long the men are moving about with torches in search of the wounded and dead. Many poor fellows on both sides have gone to their long rest. Many more are crippled for life. The Union loss is said to be from fifty to 100 killed, and 300 or 400 wounded. The enemy's loss is not known, but said to be 300 killed.
"The scene of the battlefield is awful. Dead men lying in heaps here and there, limbs off, and dead horses lying in every direction. In a little hollow behind a battery four rebels were playing cards. They had just dealt, and each held his hand, when a shell burst in their midst, and killed all of them. In other places the wounded are groaning and crying for help. Such is a battlefield! Although the shells fell thick around us, and Company D was skirmishing all the afternoon, none of our Regiment was injured. Next morning before light we moved on, the artillery occasionally throwing shells. All day we followed the retreating rebels, till we came to Cedar Creek, when our artillery threw shells across at the rebels who were cooking their supper. They gathered up in haste and fled; one shell killed one man and wounded three. Next morning as we passed over the ground of the rebel bivouac, we found it strewn with half-filled barrels of flour, cakes half baked, and tents half burned, and things scattered very generally. We passed on without much skirmishing, to our present position, three miles from Strasburg."
This was the limit of our pursuit as directed by General Banks. It was rumored at this time that the enemy had been largely reinforced by Generals Smith and Longstreet, but his proved incorrect at this time. Our force on this occasion consisted of four brigades of infantry, one regiment of cavalry (The Third U. S.) and forty pieces of artillery. On the evening of April 4 the Sutler reached our camp, bring several casks of ale, and it is hardly necessary to add that it was soon transferred from the barrels to the thirsty throats of its admirers. The same evening some of the officers, accompanied by the band, proceeded to pay their respects to Colonel Nathan Kimball, commanding, who was found wrapped in the drapery of his blankets and who declined to listen to any music, as it was not
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military at such a time, and furthermore, would prevent us hearing an alarm if one was sounded. The General being too much engaged with his fears, we left him and proceeded to the headquarters of General Williams, who courteously invited us in and gave us a hearty welcome.
April 7, the Regiment was called upon for duty at the outpost, to support a battery of artillery, and a sorry time we had, bivouacking out in the cold drizzly rain; but in the space of twenty-four hours we were relieved by the Seventh Indiana and proceeded back to our old quarters where there was more solid comfort.
April 12, General Shields had so far recovered as to be able to review his command. On being congratulated upon his recovery, he stated that he was again ready to give the rebels another chance at him, supported as he would be by his gallant troops.
While we were encamped at Strasburg Surgeon Blake and Major Munn rejoined the Regiment. The Major had been absent sick since March 22, and Surgeon Blake since the battle, having been detailed to the hospital. Considerable speculation was indulged in as regarded in our next move, but nothing could be learned from any source. It was evident, however, what we should not remain long idle.
At one a.m., April 17, orders came to at once prepare to march, and we were soon in readiness for any destination. We left camp before daylight and during the morning crossed the south branch of the Shenandoah River, our skirmishers having now and then a little brush with the rebel cavalry; but they retreated rapidly after burning bridges, railroad cars and other property that might give aid and comfort to the enemy. Our cavalry in the advance had several brisk skirmishes, resulting in the capture of a few prisoners. During the day we forded the Shenandoah River, the water being waist deep and having a very strong current. A large number of the men removed their clothing for this purpose, remembering their experiences at Hancock, Maryland with wet garments.
We reached New Market after a tedious journey over the worst road that we had as yet traveled, and bivouacked. The following morning, April 19, the Regiment was ordered to cross the Massanuton Mountain to guard the bridges upon the river which were spanning the south fork of the Potomac. One half of the Regiment was stationed at Columbia Bridge, while the other part guarded the White House Bridge, some six miles distant. The duty at the White House Bridge was shared by two companies of the First Vermont Cavalry, who were daily busy in making raids. On April 23 we organized a raid to proceed to the village of Luray, some six miles distant, but did not accomplish anything except giving the inhabitants a thorough scare and driving from town a small force of the enemy. We remained in the town some few hours, and while there the larders of its citizens suffered somewhat severely by helping ourselves to something for eating and drinking, which was by no means abundant.
The six companies that were stationed at Columbia Bridge, under the command of Major Munn, had quite a lively skirmish with two companies of rebel cavalry at the time they took possession, getting some seventeen prisoners. The Major posted his men in such manner as to hold the place. This bridge as well as the White House was a covered one, and of great length, and it was impossible to determine the character of any persons in the bridge by those approaching, and this circumstances soon gave them another prisoner. It seems that a rebel officer had been off down the river to see his best girl, and in his absence the bridge had fallen into our hands. He was totally ignorant of the fact,
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and was returning on his horse in a very leisurely and unconcerned manner. He came along singing and chirping and was doubtless in a very happy frame of mind, just back from seeing his charmer. Our boys noticed his coming and one of them drew up his gun to fire, but was stopped in time by the Major, who said, "Let him alone and we will give him a surprise;" and they withdrew back in the deeper shadow of the bridge. The man continued to approach, wholly unsuspicious of danger. He was allowed to come quite close before the word was given to "Halt!" "Halt!" He sang out, thinking the matter a joke. "What in the hell are you halting me for? I'm no damned Yankee!" "Well, we are. Halt!" And the boys stepped forward presenting their muskets. The surprise and astonishment of this man can better be imagined than described. He was almost paralyzed, but yielded gracefully to circumstances and the fortunes of war.
April 22, Major Collins, commanding several companies of the First Vermont Cavalry stationed near us at White House Bridge, invited several officers of the Thirty-Ninth to accompany him on an expedition made for the purpose of arresting a Colonel Boswell, of the Confederate army, who was known to be at his home several miles distant in the country. At the head of two companies we started off on the gallop. An hour's ride brought us to the house, and attended by a file of troopers we proceeded up to the door, and were met by a lady very much excited and frightened. "Is this the residence of Colonel Boswell, Madam?" the Major asked. "It is, sir." "Is the Colonel at home?" "No, Sir." "Can you inform us as to his whereabouts?" "I think he has gone to join the army; but, are you Northern or Southern soldiers?" "We are soldiers in support of the majesty of the United States Government, Northern men, Madam, and, if you please, genuine Yankees; and you will please be quite certain that your husband is not here, for we intend to search the house and premises." "I tell you the truth, Sir, if I die the next minute; but I do hope you will not kill him in case you should ever meet with him, and I do pray that you will not turn myself and daughters out of our home on such a day as this is." "No fear, Madam. We came solely to seek your husband, whom we were informed was here on a visit. You or your home shall not suffer in the least, and we do not war against women and children."
We then proceeded to make a thorough search of the house and outbuildings, but failed to find the Colonel. He must have been apprised of our coming and fled.
After overhauling all his papers and correspondence and appropriating what seemed of importance we returned to our camp very much chagrined at the failure.
The probabilities were that we would remain at the vicinity of the White House Bridge for several weeks and consequently had ordered forwarded all our camp and garrison equipment. Our life was full of novelty and excitement, and the hours and days passed smoothly away. While here, we were visited by a large and motley group of slaves belonging to the adjacent farmers, and to witness their delight and the well-pleased expressions that beamed from every polished face-their large eyes rolling in a frenzy of amazement and their thick lips shrinking back from the gleaming ivory in merry grins at what they witnessed of company drill and camp scenes, were funny to behold. The Regimental Band played some lively airs for their especial benefit, awaking in them all the harmony of their natures, which expressed itself in every bone and muscle, and occasionally it found vent in words: "Lor, bless dis y'er time! Chile, jis listen to dat ar! it am mighty fine." They remained until after "dress parade," which "capped the climax."
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"The scene of the battlefield is awful"
May 4, the detachment located at White House Bridge was ordered to Columbia Bridge to support the Thirteenth Indiana and First Virginia regiments, which were guarding the bridge. On the 5th rumors of the advance of Jackson were circulated, and finally confirmed by the appearance of large numbers of rebel cavalry on the opposite side. The troops were ordered to sleep on their muskets and be in readiness at a moment's warning to either fight or retreat.
May 6 brought nothing new except that Companies D and G of the Thirty-Ninth were sent out as skirmishers and we were reinforced with five regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and two batteries of artillery.
At one o'clock the following morning the whole command was ordered forward for a reconnaissance of the enemy's position, which resulted in a severe skirmish with the vanguard of the enemy, wherein the Thirteenth Indiana, which led the advance, lost about fifty men in killed and wounded and taken prisoners. We found their force to be greatly superior to our own and were compelled to make a hasty retreat. The report had reached us that Yorktown had been evacuated, and the force opposite to us was indeed a part if not the whole of that army. During the night the summit and sides of the Blue Ridge for miles were glittering with the campfires and signal-lights of the rebel host. In order to mislead the enemy hundreds of unnecessary fires were lighted up on our hillsides.
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ON THE MARCH.
The signal corps were kept busy all night telegraphing across the mountain to General Banks, who had been forced to retire from Harrisonburg by reason of the advance of the large army under Johnson and Jackson.
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May 10, orders came to prepare for a march to Fredericksburg and report to General McDowell. The following morning at an early hour we had commenced a weary march, and for four continuous days the rain was unceasing. After crossing the Blue Ridge we met a party of some 600 rebel cavalry, and a brisk skirmish ensued which delayed our progress for a few hours. This march had extended across the peninsula and through the wilderness of Virginia, and had been undertaken with the expectation of forming, with the army of General McDowell, the right wing of Mcclellan's army.
General McDowell had a force of 40,000 men under his command, and at the time of our arrival they were in active preparation for a move "On to Richmond," and we were ordered to at once trim ourselves for the movement. All of our tents were ordered turned over, the baggage train to be diminished to four wagons; our heavy winter clothing to be packed and sent to Washington; all disabled men to be discharged from the service, and those requiring hospital treatment to be sent to Alexandria, Virginia. There was to be a general purging out of Shield's Division, and his rough Western men must subscribe more fully and obey more strictly "army regulations," so they might harmonize more fully with the popinjay soldiers from Massachusetts and the Eastern States, whom we often noticed looking scornfully and disdainfully at us, until there were several broken heads among them to teach them better manners.
REVIEW BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN AT FALMOUTH, VA., MAY 1862.
President Lincoln, Secretary Edwin Stanton, Lord Lyons of the British Embassy, and other distinguished persons, were present here, and the next day there was to be a grand review of the army, and there was a great deal to do in order to prepare for a close inspection and the parade. On
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"The scene of the battlefield is awful"
the afternoon of May 24, the troops, numbering some 50,000, were paraded for review. As President Lincoln rode down our lines at a gallop in company with General McDowell and his brilliant staff, his eye caught sight of our flag, which had our name and number emblazoned upon it, and partly turned and stopped and called out, "What Regiment is that?" "Thirty-Ninth Illinois!" was answered. "Well! You boys are a good ways from home, ain't you?" and passed on down the line. After the review and we had returned to our camp the President came and made a tour through the Regimental quarters, shaking hands with many and asking numerous questions. He seemed delighted to find a regiment from his own state in the Army of the Potomac.
The lines of army discipline were drawn pretty taut at this juncture, and the duties of officers and men were onerous in the extreme. Dr. Clark was the only medical officer with the Regiment, as Dr. Blake had remained at New Market in charge of our sick, and had afterwards been assigned to duty in Banks' army in charge of a hospital near Mount Jackson, Virginia. Major Munn was also absent on detached service as provost-marshal at Warrenton Junction. The Regimental Quartermaster, Joseph A. Cutler, was also behind somewhere, and Lieutenant J. F. Linton, of Company D, was acting in his place, and was much more efficient and gave much better satisfaction. Disabled men were being examined and discharged and the sick sent to the hospital, and the heavy clothing and overcoats of the men were got in readiness to be sent to Washington.
About May 23, it began to be rumored that General Banks was being driven back and surrounded by the rebels under Generals Bushrod Johnson, Stonewall Jackson and Richard Ewell, who were making every effort to tear the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad again, and Shields' Division received orders to march back to his relief, and on the morning of May 25, at six o'clock, we started on a return forced march. Prior to leaving, however, four captains and two lieutenants from different companies of the Regiment went to Dr. Clark for examination and a certificate of disability on which to base an application to enable them to present the resignation of their commissions-right in the face of the enemy, as it were. Dr. Clark, upon examination of these six officers, found that he could not accede to their wishes, and they, after some slight unpleasantness with the Doctor, were obliged to return, but soon afterwards tendered their resignations and left the service.
On the return march some trouble occurred between General Irvin McDowell and Shields, with the result that General Shields left his command. At Warrenton Junction we heard of General Bank's defeat and utter route from the valley, and there being no further necessity for our joining him, our brigade, which then consisted of the Thirty-Ninth Illinois, Sixty-Seventh Ohio and Thirteenth Indiana Volunteers, was ordered to Alexandria.
There were many sick and footsore, and they were given transportation on the railroad. Proceeding on from this point, the march became more and more tedious and monotonous. We were yet on the road formerly traversed, noticeable by many signs, chief of which, was the complete demolition of the rail-fencing marking our former bivouacs, which had been used for fuel or shelter, and in many instances for a bed, in order to keep out of the mud. The rail fences of Virginia were a great boon to the soldiers of both armies.
The Thirty-Ninth, with the balance of the Division, reached Alexandria about June 12, where a rest was given us to from so long a march; but it was not to be a protracted or even a sufficient one,
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for McClellan's army was engaged with Lee's in what has been recorded in history as the "Seven Days" fight, in front of Richmond, and like the Wandering Jew we must move on.
June 26 we were ordered on board transports and were soon enroute for Harrison's Landing on the James River, arriving there in time to take some small part in the battle of Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862; but fortunately our positions and duty were such that we lost no men from the Regiment.
It should have been mentioned in its proper connection that when we reached Luray, Virginia, on our return march from Fredericksburg, a portion of our brigade was sent to Port Republic to hold or, if need be, to destroy the bridge across the South Branch of the Shenandoah River, where it met a large force of the enemy and a disastrous battle took place. The Thirty-Ninth was ordered there but did not reach the place in time to take part, but assisted in taking care of the wounded, numbering 100 or more.
The march to and from Fredericksburg had occupied some three weeks' time, and we had covered 360 miles of distance. It was a distressingly long march and one that tried the patience and endurance of the men beyond anything in our former experience as soldiers, and crippled many.
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CHAPTER EIGHT
"Death was busy reaping a rich harvest"
We were assigned after reaching Harrison's Landing to the Corps commanded by General Erasmus Darwin Keyes, but were yet in General John James Peck's Division, and General Orris Sanford Ferry commanded our Brigade, and the eminent surgeon Dr. Frank H. Hamilton was the Medical Director. The weather for the most part of the time that we remained at this place was almost unendurable, the temperature often reaching 102° in the shade. The dry soil was so destitute of all moisture that it was fissured in all directions. Many of the camps were so destitute of all shade; the water scarce and totally unfit for use; in numerable flies by day destroyed all comfort for man and beast, and myriads of mosquitoes disturbed sleep at night. Sickness in many forms was widespread, and Death was busy reaping a rich harvest in the Army of the Potomac. It will be remembered that we had considerable sickness in the Regiment but lost no men by death at this time. A contract assistant surgeon, Dr. J. H. Strobridge, a Canadian, had been assigned to duty with the Regiment and rendered very efficient service. The Sanitary and Christian Commissions came very opportunely to our aid at this juncture, furnishing abundance's of ice and delicacies for the sick, and in no small degree contributing to their comfort and return to health. The Thirty-Ninth for the most part was put on outpost duty at the front, remaining out for a week at a time, and this duty was much more desirable than remaining in camp, near the river.
July 26, Captain W. B. Slaughter, Company G, resigned his commission, and Lieutenant Amos Savage was promoted to the position. Captains Gray, Company C, Wilmarth, Company B, and Hooker, of Company E, had previously resigned; also Lieutenants Holderman, Company B, and Nicholson, of Company K. Adjutant Frank B. Marshall, who had been absent from the Regiment for a considerable time on recruiting service, had also resigned, Sergeant-Major Joseph D. Walker being promoted to fill the vacancy. Surgeon S. C. Blake had resigned June 3, Assisting Surgeon C. M. Clark being promoted.
Company H, commanded by Captain Williams, joined the Regiment here, together with recruits for other companies, on or about the July 12, 1862.
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August 9 there was general commotion in General Mcclellan's Army, and a move in some direction seemed imminent. The gunboats went up the river and assailed Fort Darling, and much of the infantry, artillery and cavalry was in motion, but as yet we had received no orders. The "Celestial Picket" up in a balloon, anchored near McClellan's headquarters, reported the enemy advancing and estimated to be some 60,000 strong. About midnight there was a terrific cannonading. The whole camp was roused by the rapid bursting of shells in the very midst of our encampment, which produced, as can be imagined, a very lively commotion and scattering, in a closely packed camp of about 50,000 men. It was soon discovered that the shells came from a battery across the James River. In 20 minutes time, however, a few of our guns had completely silenced it.
GUNBOATS ON JAMES RIVER.
Aside from the large amount of actual sickness in McClellan's army, there was noticeable, and especially among commissioned officers, a large amount of nostalgia, or home sickness. Large numbers sent in their resignations, but as a rule they were disapproved. Many feigned sickness, and one instance is known where a valiant officer hired two men to carry him to the hospital boat on a stretcher, and he succeeded in getting North to a hospital. The camp was a harvest for the sutlers. These vampires charged double prices for everything they sold, and nothing was sold for a less price than 10 cents, if it was a stick of candy.
On August 2 General Joseph Hooker's Brigade moved toward Malvern and attacked the enemy near Glendale, and on the 15th the army was in bustle and confusion, and commenced to move somewhere.
August 16 we received orders to march, having no idea to our destination, but soon found out that we were the tail-end and rearguard of that magnificent army that a month or two before had been mobilized for the purpose of taking Richmond; and now it was ingloriously retreating to Yorktown, its rear protected by a Western brigade. After five days of weary marching under the fierce rays of a vertical sun, and through clouds of pulverized clay that rolled so thickly around and about us as to
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"Death was busy reaping a rich harvest"
obscure the men in our rear, and was almost suffocating; water very scarce, and nothing to eat but dry "hardtack" and a few straggling ears of corn that had escaped capture by the preceding multitude; having to sleep shelterless, and awaking in the morning to find our blankets and clothing saturated with the moisture of the heavy falling dew, we reached the vicinity of Yorktown and encamped on ground made historic by the early struggles of our Revolutionary fathers for that freedom and that country that we are now striving to perpetuate. Before leaving Harrison's Landing, there came into our possession in some manner a specimen of camp poetry, a paraphrase on Poe's "Raven," and penned evidently by some one who was no admirer of McClellan. It is reproduced here, not because we endorse its sentiments, but as a fair specimen of a campaign lyric.
"THE CRAVEN."
"On that mighty day of battle, 'mid the booming and the rattle, Shouts of victory and of anguish, wherewith Malvern's Hill did roar, Did a General, now quite fameless, who in these lines shall be nameless, Show himself as rather gameless, gameless on the James' shore? Safely smoking on a gunboat, while the tempest raged on shore- Only this, and nothing more.
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