USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > Historical sketches relating to Spencer, Mass., Volume III > Part 8
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Visitors From Home.
We became quite proficient in drill and the health and con- stitution of nearly all greatly improved. We were a healthy and jolly set of fellows, having lost but few from sickness. Early in the fall we were visited by Luther Hill of Spencer, Mass., who brought to us some specie which was in good time, very acceptable and of good service. In the winter Joel Bullard, Jo- seph Ward and Rufus Sibley came to see us and spent about a week in camp. During the fore part of the winter we received bed clothing, boots, shirts etc. from our townspeople which were of great value. Our boys appreciated the kindness of their friends and townspeople and I trust they have been as prompt in the performance of every duty to their country, for it is for these duties that so many kindnesses have been bestowed upon us.
We had considerable excitement one day, originating from some "niggers" we had in camp who had deserted their masters and were serving in the company kitchens. The owner of one, accompanied by several others, came into camp with the intention of taking his "nigger." After going to Col. Briggs and getting for an answer "to take his nigger if he could get him," he strutted to where the "nigger" was and told him to go along with him. Cuffy couldn't see it, so the boys told Nolan (that was his name) he could not take the "nigger" and he and his party could retire as soon as convenient. This was rather rough to be sure, and they, considerably elated with the spirit, became exasperated and gave vent to some of their Southern fire.
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Nolan gave the boys an invitation to visit his house at night with 500 men and he would meet them like Beauregard, "with bloody hands to hospitable graves." That was enough ; as soon
Saucy Planter Badly Treated.
as they had left camp, plans were laid to call upon him that night in force. As soon as it was dark, squads of from twenty to. forty, marched out of camp together and waited in the road until a large force collected, armed with muskets, pistols, knives and bayonets, everything for a skirmish at long or short range. Be- tween four and five hundred left camp for the visit, but the dis- tance being twelve miles over a rough road and a dark night, not more than a hundred and fifty reached the desired spot. Skir- mishers were at once thrown around his house and closed down upon it and Mr. Nolan summoned to appear before his guests. He with great reluctance acceded to the request and opened his door, when the invited party of course walked in; but he, failing to meet them as proposed, they made him take the oath of allegiance before his own slaves and the one from camp who had been pilot. During this time a party were gathering fowls for their own consumption in the barns and outbuildings, another in the cellar drinking wines and eating preserves and everything else they wished. The slaves showed them the cupboards and brought out all they could eat and so they entertained themselves. as best they could until tired, then started for camp leaving Nolan mortally enraged and I trust wiser for the lesson. An alarm was given in camp and pickets sent out to take all pris- oners as they approached. The pickets were stationed in the woods so that as fast as the raiders came. along they were taken, disarmed and marched into camp under guard. The Colonel and Captain Miller started from camp on horseback to learn the cause of the disturbance, but when they were seen approaching the boys jumped over the fences and hid. The Colonel and Captain suddenly came upon one of the visitors and being interrogated as to where they had been etc., the Colonel noticed something very large under his coat and inquired what it was. "A white blanket," was the reply, no sooner had he spoken than the blanket gave a loud squall and the fellow took the strength of his legs for safety and dropped a big goose on the ground which was equally frightened and ran into the hands of others hiding by the fence. So fell the poor goose but only to grace the table of the captors the next day.
Several in running guard were fired at but escaped unhurt to camp with their spoils. Some carried a jar of preserves and another a pot of butter, but on being taken they were relieved of their prize. Not long after it was reported the butter and pre- serves were served at the staff officers' table. All taken prisoners
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that night were put under arrest and expected to be court-mar- tialed, but our sudden departure from Brightwood saved us. Nolan entered a complaint to Gen. McClellan and the affair be- gan to look serious. Col. Briggs visited Nolan one day and paid him about $300 damages and that was the end of it.
It was amusing to listen to the scores of different stories of that night's campaign, how many got lost, their narrow escapes from being shot running guard, their prizes; some told of their capture and escape afterwards and such like. It was a hard
HORACE D. WILSON,
Born in Spencer, March 4th, 1816. Died in Hospital at Newburn, N. C., April 26, 1862.
night's work but we had been challenged and were not to be out- done by such a noted rascal and rebel. Since that time, Nolan I understand has joined the rebel army. He is a wealthy farmer, his land extending to the Potomac where there is a ford named after him, where the enemy crossed last October after making their raid through Hagerstown and Gettysburg around our army in Maryland.
The Heavy Marching Orders.
About the first of March 1862 we received orders prepara- tory to a march of several days. We were kept in suspense ex-
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pecting hourly to move, formed lines, with knapsacks, our haver- sacks filled with provisions and a hundred rounds of cartridges, but the orders were always countermanded until the tenth when we took up the march in the direction of the chain bridge seven miles distant. After an hour's march it commenced to rain, making it very muddy. Our knapsacks, haversacks, provisions, call- teens, hundred rounds of ammunition, musket and belts were about such as a mule could carry ; (I shall be one if I ever carry another such load) everything weighed nearly sixty pounds. At one p. m. we crossed the bridge and found the roads in good condition so we hurried along six miles and halted for the day in a large field where a few days before had been stationed the enemy's pickets. The boys commenced at once to build bough shanties for the night, but feeling tired and it bidding fair for a pleasant night, J. W. Bigelow and I slept in a ditch. Soon I was dreaming of the enemy who so recently had occupied the ground and daily we expected to meet him on the battlefield. How I fought to overthrow every foe and how I sent many reek- ing to the earth in anguish, when suddenly I was awakened by the pelting rain in my face. Becoming conscious of the intruder to my slumbers and dreams, I covered my face with the blanket and bid it rain on and again fell to slumber and my dreams. No one dreams like a soldier-the battlefield, hand conflicts with the foe, victory and wounds are often in his slumbering imagina- tion. Those dear ones at home, the pleasures of home, its charms and enjoyments, with the smiles and cheerfulness around the fireside, are among the soldier's daily thoughts and afford much consolation.
The next morning we arose with the sun; took our break- fast of hard bread and salt horse (beef) but only relishing it enough to allay hunger. The day was beautiful and spent in part rambling in search of anything that might be interesting; occasionally a cannon shot or shell I would see by the roadside or in the woods, but having no great desire to meddle or try ex- periments with them I passed them by as "infernal machines." One of the 2nd R. I. brought a shell into camp, thinking it con- tained no powder and tried it by touching a match to it, when it exploded killing one man and wounding others.
Operations Begun on the Peninsula.
After the evacuation of Manassas, Mcclellan changed his plans, taking the peninsula for his base of operations, conse- quently our advance in our present direction was useless and our troops gradually fell back to their old camp to await transporta- tion to Fortress Monroe. We fell back to Chain bridge and on the night of the 15th were ordered to Brightwood. It had been raining heavily for forty-eight hours and was pitch dark when
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marching orders came. I made up my mind not to travel until the next day. Fortunately a number of our company remained behind and the next day in the afternoon, we reached camp, tired, worn out and almost discouraged after a week of the most tedious hardship. That was the first and last of such mon- strous knapsacks. We had learned a lesson, many threw away their overcoats and blankets and some their knapsacks and contents, declaring they would rather buy a new stock than carry the load another mile. People generally do not credit the fatigue occa- sioned by such a march, the mud knee deep and twelve miles to camp, dark as midnight darkness, brooks to ford waist deep and very chilly. Some did not reach camp for two days, but nearly all made camp before daylight Sunday morning. Lawson Powers was among the first to reach camp; he belonged to the band.
The barracks we had built for our winter quarters of planed and matched boards we sold before leaving for Prospect Hill, but fortunately for us they had not been disturbed, so in a few hours we were comfortable and after a good sleep we felt not much worse for our first week's campaign.
On the morning of the 26th of March we took up the march towards Washington and halted near Columbia college to await orders. At night they came ordering the regiment back to camp. I concluded to stay with the teams which had parked on the ground, saving a journey of several miles. We were to take transports but were twenty-four hours too soon. The next day at seven a. m. the regiment marched to the city ; at ten we were at. the wharf ready to go aboard.
It is a tedious task to move such large bodies of troops, their provisions, baggage and ammunition. Our brigade, consist- ing of the 2nd R. I. of Bull Run fame, 36th N. Y., 7th Mass. and our regiment (last October the 37th Mass. joined us) moved together and embarked at the same wharf. You can imagine the bustle and stir occasioned-it was all excitement and hurry until late in the evening when everything was aboard and we were ready to sail. The next day at eleven a. m. we sailed in good spirits, expecting soon to get into the rebel capital.
Down the Potomac.
We had a good time down the river and bay. On the 29th we reached Hampton, two miles from Fortress Monroe, a thriving town before the war; the inhabitants were quite wealthy and living in ease and luxury, the upper class being merchants, carrying on business in northern cities, spending their winters here. The working class were engaged in the fisheries and the cultivation of gardens of the wealthy. When General Butler was in command at Fortress Monroe, the enemy fearing he
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would take it, burnt every house and church, leaving it a mass of ruins. The regiment at once took up the march and halted in a field five miles distant, afterwards named Camp Smith. The wagon trains joined the regiment next day, notwithstanding hard tack and coffee were scarce, it having rained twenty hours. Rubber blankets were issued so we could protect ourselves from the rain.
On the 2nd of April I had a shock of paralysis disabling mne for all duty for months and today while writing I feel sadly the effects of the shock in my left knee. Several times when the regiment marched, being unable to keep up, I was left with the baggage to get along as best I could with the wagons.
On the 4th the regiment marched towards Warwick, the enemy being posted two miles east in entrenchments at Young's mills. They took fright at the news of our approach, making scarcely any resistance. The advance of our army fired a few shots and the enemy fled, leaving their breakfasts nicely pre- pared and many little things that were prized by our soldiers.
General Magruder's brigade had been encamped here in huts nicely shingled and fitted each with a good fireplace. The regi- ment pushed on to Warwick Court House and formed in line of battle. Our company deployed as skirmishers and advanced to the woods and laid down to wait for the enemy, who, thinking a "live coward was better than a dead hero," fled and luckily for them. This section of the country is a dense forest, low and swampy with an occasional clearing. Here once was a house now in ruins, only perhaps a chimney remaining to designate the birthplace of many a southern chevalier.
We went into camp at Warwick preparatory to the siege of Yorktown. Building corduroy roads, picketing in front of the enemy on Warwick creek, raising wagons and mules occu- pied all our time. O11 the 16th we marched near Lee's mills to support Gen. Davidson, where the 4th crossed a few days before and was driven back with such loss. Every night alarms were given and all turned out ready for an attack, to stand a couple of hours on line in the cold, and perhaps rain, until all was quiet, then turn in but only for an hour when the crack of a thousand rifles would burst upon the ear. Startled, all would rush to their arms and silently form in line.
Dangerous Work at Rifle Pits.
These were tiresome days and nights but our stay was only six days when we returned to Warwick, five miles. Our men showed the utmost daring and bravery here. Every night fa- tigue parties were sent to the front to dig rifle pits, each night advancing; while quietly shovelling a volley would be poured into them, and for the instant they would lie down until the
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firing ceased, then resume their work until relieved. After a while we got under their guns, rendering them unserviceable.
Held the Fort Alone.
Berdan's sharpshooters were a good institution and invalu- able to the army in front of Yorktown; perhaps you have read of "California Joe," one of them. He was here in front on duty ; not returning to his quarters at the expected time his comrades felt anxious about him and began to make inquires concerning Joe. No tidings among the iness could be learned, so some of his companions went in search where he was last seen on duty. Joe having an independent command of himself, here they found him in a little riflepit watching a field piece that he said "be- longed to him" as he had cleaned out "those pesky critters," showing at the same time the notches cut on the stock of his rifle indicating the number that had bit the dust. Joe said all he wanted was fodder and ammunition, then "he would take care of that ere kennon." Poor fellow, he did great service through the peninsula campaign but was wounded at Antietam.
At the evacuation of Yorktown, May 4th, our regiment marched from Warwick. As I was unable to go or take even pro- per care of myself I was left behind in charge of provisions and officers' baggage. Henry Snow, Henry M. Jones, Amasa Bul- lard and C. Browning were among the detailed guard left. On
Battle of Williamsburg.
Tuesday the 6th was the battle of Williamsburg, the regiment marching eighteen miles in mud knee deep acting as reserve. When a point seemed weak they hastened to support it and so kept moving until the battle was ended and next day buried the dead.
As I was not with the regiment for four weeks and a half I will speak of my stay around Warwick and my travels. As soon as the regiment marched I moved into the Captain's quar- ters, where I had a good bed and shelter. Perhaps you would like to know what a good bed in the army is; this was barrel staves nailed on poles and covered with pine leaves. The shanty was made of split logs, roof and sides; in front it was open and we kept a fire outside as large as we pleased for here were hundreds of acres of the finest timber I ever saw.
I was confined to my bunk for a week, then I gained strength enough to walk a mile to the steam mill to visit two men with whom I had got acquainted. These men, one a Virginian, the other from Boston, were forced into the rebel service and worked in the saw mill for them, for here they belonged, it was their place of residence, necessity compelled them to serve the rebel government, but when our troops reached Fortress Monroe,
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the enemy moved all the machinery and timber from the mill and the men with it. At the approach of our troops the enemy fled but these men concealed themselves in the marsh for two days before venturing to come into our lines. They joined their families but the troops had left them almost destitute of pro- visions. I spent many a day with them sailing down the creek and oyster fishing.
One day we visited Mulberry Island at the mouth of the Warwick river, the spot occupied as barracks by the once fa- mous Louisana Tigers, who immortally extinguished themselves while charging with bowie knives on our troops at Williams- burg. This island was beautiful once but the desolating hand of war ruined alike the inansion and huts. Thousands of bushels of wheat remained in the barns but our government seemed not to notice it. I know that a party of us one day took eighteen or twenty bushels for the benefit of our two acquaintances who took it to Newport News and exchanged it for flour. Not a white person was upon the island ; a few "niggers" were all that occupied the place and they were in the best rooms in the houses, once parlors and dining rooms but converted into kitchens and washrooms.
Plantation Deserted.
A formidable line of entrenchments followed around the river but no guns were ever mounted. On the opposite side of the river was Young's house, home of a very wealthy man in the rebel service. Before the war' he owned a hundred and fifty slaves and over five thousand acres of land. A hundred of his best slaves he took with him into the service to work on the de- fences at Yorktown. His house is situated at the junction of the Warwick and James rivers on a rise of ground overlooking both rivers a distance of ten miles. In front is a flower garden abounding in the choicest flowers and aromatic plants. The apricot, fig and orange trees lend their charm. Hundreds of peach, apple and pear trees are in good cultivation to the east- ward. The negro huts are nicely built but lack ventilation. I I don't know why it is, but I seldom see a window in a negro hut; nothing but a hole two or three feet square in the side of the building serves to admit light. During a storm a shutter is put up. The slaves had taken possession of everything and I suppose gathered the crops of last summer, as there were several hundred acres of wheat in the vicinity.
Pigs were plentiful in the woods. Thinking baked spare- rib would taste very well, one morning we started in search with a dog. We were not long in discovering a drove. Letting the dog go and trusting to him for a good selection, soon the pig was down but not liking such a greyhound style, we let go the
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dog again when he brought down a nice porker. Soldiers don't stop to scald them so we took off his hide and trudged into camp; the next day we had a good dinner. Hundreds of the same kind fell by the knives of soldiers. One day I took a horseback ride to Fortress Monroe by the way of Big Bethel, arriving at sun down. The next day I witnessed the Monitor and the batteries from the Ripraps, shelling Sewell's Point. It was a magnificent sight to see those mighty shells glancing on the water, bursting sometimes in the sand throwing up clouds of
EDMUND TOOMEY. Co. K, Ioth Regt. Mass. Vols. Born in Charlton. Died in Hospital at Harrison's Landing, Va., July 19, 1862.
earth and smoke. The Merrimac was in sight but out of range. At intervals the Monitor would send a shot whizzing towards her but received no reply. I visited the Lincoln and Union guns on the beach, the former having a bore seventeen inches in diameter, the latter sixteen and throws shot weighing five hun- dred and twenty-five pounds. The weight of the Lincoln gun is 49,099 pounds.
On the 29th information reached us to be ready to move the next day, with all our baggage to Newport News, where it was to be left and we join our regiment. The next day we packed everything for a grand start. During the forenoon a train of
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twenty-five wagons came to clean up everything left in the vicin- ity and to convey it to a place of safety. After loading our wagons and moving into the road to await the remainder of the train until two o'clock, we bid adieu to Warwick, where we had been alone for four weeks and a half, only to travel two miles to Young's mills where we spent the night. Good barracks were here for the men and good water for the horses, but remembering the liability of old buildings to vermin I preferred not to occupy the barracks, but went to a grist mill with a comrade and spent the night. After refreshments of hard tack and coffee we "turned in," with a mill stone at our feet and a good hard wood floor for a bed.
Scarcely had I closed my eyes to sleep when the roar of thunder and the flash of lightning made me conscious of a com- ing storm. I listened with anxiety to its fury, no more sleep for our army. How many times I wondered if our regiment was on picket without a blanket or tent to cover them. That storm was one of the most frightful experienced by our army ; they were on the eve of battle; the next day came the battle of Fair Oaks.
The storm raged through the night and until between seven and eight next morning, when we started for Newport News by the James river route. The teams being lightly loaded, and the roads in tolerably good condition, they moved rapidly, keeping us, some of the way, on a trot. At 1 p. m. we entered the entrench- ments at Newport News. We were met by the commanding general, Mansfield, who ordered plenty of provisions and good barracks for us while we remained.
After relieving myself of my load, I took a stroll along the bank of the river, to approach as near as possible the frigate Cumberland, sunk by the Merrimac, and the remains of the Con- gress, burned at the same time. A hundred of the crew of the Cumberland were then between decks, having gone down with the ship. At ten o'clock the next morning we left for Fortress
Fortress Monroe.
Monroe, two hours' sail. Here we spent the night inside the fortress, which is said to cover eighty acres, and is surrounded by a canal about sixty feet wide, the water being ten feet below the level of the ground. The walls of the fort must be thirty- five feet high from the water and built of massive granite blocks. It mounts 350 guns of the largest calibre ; many of them are in casements, protecting both men and guns in time of action. The arrangement for defense is complete. Should an enemy approach near enough to throw shells inside, it is so constructed that the inside can be flooded with water to a depth of four feet,
7
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rendering shells harmless after falling in the water. The barracks and wooden buildings might be burned ; that is about the extent of the damage that can be done by throwing shells inside.
While here we heard of the battle of Fair Oaks ; our corps had been engaged and lost terribly. We were anxious to inake. all haste to the regiment, and took the first boat next morn- ing for White House Landing, on the Pamunkey river. We sailed up the York river, passing Yorktown, Gloucester, and West Point. Here the river is met by the Pamunkey and Matapong rivers. The former is very narrow and deep, and is navigable for the largest steamers. Its course for several miles forms almost. a circle, its banks are fertile and productive, for miles inter- spersed with neat dwellings and farm houses. Proceeding fartlier up the river the land is low, with dense woods growing down to the water. For many miles before reaching White House the river was filled with schooners loaded with forage and provisions.
Already I began to see the effects of the recent battle ; many wounded, but able to walk, were on the decks of the sanitary commission steamers. We reached the landing at dark, and. found several of our regiment there on duty, who gave us an idea of our loss. We stacked arms in the field, and made coffee. A train load of wounded had just come in, so I went in search of some of our boys, if perchance there were any on the train. I soon found one of our company in a freight car, badly wounded in the knee. The car was so crowded and dark I was unable to get near him, but it was a consolation to me to speak a few cheering words, for they proved to be the last. He was in good spirits, having laid in the woods two days and nights without food or shelter ; he suffered from thirst. He expected soon to
Sad Are the Soldiers' Sufferings.
recover and share again the fates of war with his comrades, but after suffering several months his leg was amputated and he died. He was a brave soldier.
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