USA > Maine > History of the Fifth regiment Maine volunteers, comprising brief descriptions of its marches, engagements, and general services from the date of its muster in, June 24, 1861, to the time of its muster out, July 27, 1864 > Part 2
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entire safety of the command, two negroes were cap- tured, who gave us " valuable information " regarding the strength of the enemy, their proximity to Fairfax Conrt-house, the magnitude of their fortifications, and other matters, mighty in imagination, but insignifi- cant in reality. During the return of this expedition, a small body of troops, about a sergeant's guard, were seen moving on a distant road. Volunteers were at once called for to go forth to the capture. A dozen men, more or less, sprang to the front. Headed by a valiant officer, they were soon hastening over fields, through undergrowth, and speedily gained the sum- mit of a hill where they could "view the landscape 6'er." "There they come," says one, as he peeped over his neighbor's shoulder. "Look out now," says another. Like brave heroes they all lay low. Soon it was ascer- tained that the body of troops was a guard which had accompanied a lady into Alexandria under flag of truee, and hence could not be molested. The boys breathed easier, though there is no telling what heroic deeds might have been accomplished, had it not been for that flag of truce.
The morning of the sixteenth witnessed a great excitement in camp. The entire army was on the move. The Fifth was brigaded with the Third and Fourth Maine, and the Second Vermont, all commanded by General O. O. Howard. By noon the command was upon the move, marching some fifteen miles, although owing to obstructions on the road, they did not reach their place of encampment until about one o'clock at
2*
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night. It was not a long, but it was a most tellins march, though during the day the regiment wer- fi- vored with the deep shade of heavy trees soon etter side of the road. In the early part of the evening a great many halts occurred, until the patience of the men were nearly exhausted. No one seemed to know the cause of the interruption in the march, until shout ten o'clock at night, it was revealed. In the route of the march was a deep narrow ravine through which the troops passed, and at the foot of which was a le-p but narrow stream of water. Over this stream wis placed a single log upon which thousands of men passed over. Of course it was a very slow job. Had the enemy been posted there, even in small malers, the "boys" might have experienced conside: Die trouble in effecting a crossing, especially viên a &: dle log.
Ever and anon, a lond splash announced that s me luckless "sojer" had lost his balance and gay :- 1 into the water, to the detriment of his hard Free hand ammunition. It is supposed that in military they = it have called the placing of that log round sie w -a- gineering:" but in the rude civilian ignorance : 1W recruits, it was denominated as stupid blundering. It is feared that the custom so frequent among issy-s. many of whom displayed their ability upon ti- ra sch of continuing a good thing (to them) as long as ! and which in time becomes a second nature. r. : -. 1 any more expeditions action. An axe, a B .... : and common sense, might have erected a prest le
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bridge in a few moments. But then these delays only served to prevent too much labor being accomplished in the famous " ninety days," at the end of which : was expected that every " Johnny" would be non est.
The following morning, at an early hour, the com- mand was again in motion. It seemed to be advan - ing toward Manassas, though following quite a cirer- tous route. The carelessness of men handling fire- arms was demonstrated to-day by two accident- ; the first, by one man receiving a severe wound by :Le discharge of a musket in the hands of another; and the second, the attempt of one of the men to strike an apple from a tree with his loaded musket inverte ?. and by some means it discharged, the ball peste through his body and his thigh, producing a morta. wound.
Word passes along the lines that the enemy ase filling back before our advance. Of course this cause a great deal of joy among the "boys" as they +go marching on." Rations were getting short, and the cattle, swine, and poultry from neighboring yards kal to suffer. They were eaten as soon as slaughtere :. Epienres fared hard in war days. Fanciful food was not furnished by the general commissary, unless worn hard bread can be so called. The soldier must nevez find fault. They were machines (to interpret the : ~- tion of some men in the early days of the war), iz- trusted to the care of important personages, wis presumed that they understood the wants of the .. . dier better than the soldier could possibly understorsi
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them himself. How wonderfully the capacities of some civilian officers at Washington were enlarged, and how ignorant the soldier had become; perhaps the latter, once far in advance of the former, within the few days of authority. "Obey orders," "grin and bear it," was expected and rigidly enforced.
At an early hour in the forenoon the command was halted; but late in the afternoon they took up a " double quick," it being reported that an engagement was in progress.
Lest the reader may here misapprehend, I will say that the double quick was in advance; the command had had no experience in retreating then. They were too late, however, to reinforce the troops. A Massa- chusetts regiment had been attacked in ambush, but were unable to hold their ground. That night a new experience in soldier's life was commenced, lying upon the ground with nothing to protect from a raging rain- storm save a single blanket. How closely these blank- ets were hugged over the heads of thousands to pre- vent the rain from beating directly in their faces. With the oft-repeated assurance that the war would not last ninety days, and that all present trials were only to break the monotony of the little exeur-ion "down South," all sleep quietly, soundly, perhaps sweetly.
The nineteenth of July finds the command in biy- onae in the vicinity of Centreville, and short of rations at that. No meat had been issued for two days, and the men were yearning for something substantial.
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Soon some wandering cattle were discovered, undoubt- eilly the property of some " secesh," who, for the time being, had union prorliritics ; yet no questions were asked, and a hot pursuit was at once instituted to effect their capture. After some two hours' maneuver- ing in a hot sun, which, of course, caused said cattle to become quite warm, an axe settles their earthly career; and with jack-knife in hand, each one pro- ceeds to cut sirloin, rump, etc., to his satisfaction. The quivering flesh was at once attached to a stick, hell in the fires around the temporary cook-houses; and when it had become somewhat crisped, was ea- gerly devoured without salt (there was none), by the hungry boys. Visions of rare beef-steak (ours was rare enough), and beautifully cooked mutton chops at home, only served to increase the avidity with which the miserably prepared rations were devoured, amid, I am sorry to record, many questionable blessings upon quarter-masters, both in particular and general. Or- ders being received to holl ourselves in readiness to move with three days' cooked rations (we hadn't any), men began to look around themselves ; but finally some "alt beef came to the rescue; but which required ox- treme diligence upon the part of the company cooks to prepare for tender gums, and to meet the fear- fil grumblings of the civilian soldiery. From the falling rain of the night, a few boughs and the single blankets afforded the only protection. In the after- noon of the 20th, orders were received to move at once; but upon being formed in line of battle, a coun-
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termanding order was given, but with the understand- ing that the command was to move at an early hour on the morrow. The evening seemed particularly solemn. A feeling pervaded the camps that a conflict must soon ensue, with what result the future could alone unfold, though hopes of victory were high. Miny were the letters indited to loved ones at home that night. Many were the speculations regarding the future; but of the approaching result, no one dreamed.
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CHAPTER III.
Preparations for advance. Delay. Double quick to Bull Run. Under fire. At work, Retreat. Irregularities. All night march. Contrast in the feelings of the boys in going to and returning from Bull Run. Result of the effort,-a defeat. Arrival at Alexandria. Col. Dunnell at Bull Run.
THE following morning (the ever-memorable Sun- day, July twenty-first), about one o'clock, the com- mand was aroused from their sleep by the commanding officers, and directed to prepare at once for a move- ment. Canteens were rapidly filled, haversacks re- plenished, coffee and hardtack (our breakfast) speedily devonred, and the troops were soon formed into line of battle, preparing to march "on to the fray." For two mortal hours we were in line, yet no word of forward was given. About four o'clock, A. M., we moved out of our encampment on to the Centreville turnpike, a distance of about half a mile. Here, be- neath the shade of the trees, we were doomed to make a long tarry. Distinctly to our ears came the sound of the conflict ; yet Howard's brigade remained. Im- patience was everywhere visible; yet we must obey orders. The sun seemed to pour down his most -weltering rays; not even a cloud dotted the sky, nor a breath of wind to fan our brows. Clothed in thick
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woolen garments, with our acconterments and blankets, no one knowing how soon we might march, the time passed very slowly, and certainly very uncomfortably. Nine, ten o'clock, and yet we remained in the same position wondering what detained us. In the distance we could see the glistening bayonets moving across the plains, could hear peal after peal of artillery, and the sharp, quick reports of musketry. Soon an order- ly dashes up, and the order, " Fifth Maine, fall in," was responded to with a will and readiness, indicative of our former impatience. We had moved but a short distance, when "double quick " came ringing on the air; and such a double quick, methinks, was never be- fore or since experienced. Fortunately our course lay through a wooded country which served to shelter us, in a measure, from the intense heat of the sun. Our water was nearly gone, and, during that whole run of some six or seven miles, we were not once allowed a halt to replenish our canteens. Unaccustomed to such severe marches, suffering intensely from thirst aud heat, pressed on at as rapid rate as possible, our thin- ing ranks began to show the effects of overexertion. Men seemed to fall in squads by the roadside, some sun-struck, some bleeding at nose, mouth, ears; others wind-broken, while others were exhausted to such a degree, that the threatening muzzle of the officers' pis- tol, failed to induce them a step further. While the boys were murmuring because they had no water, we suddenly came to a brook flowing across the road. through which thousands had undoubtedly passed be-
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fore; and oh! ye people of the North, could you have witnessed the avidity with which our boys would drink of that water, in hundreds of cases using their shoes for flippers, horses and men side by side, the water thick- "ned and yellow with dirt, your hearts would have Med for us. Yet it was all we had, and how precious was even that water! For miles the road was strewed with blankets, haversacks, coats, thrown aside by the almost exhausted soliers. Such scenes, such sights, are beyond the power of my pen to give description. On, on we ran, till suddenly a cannon ball, striking within a few feet of the head of the regiment, gave us to understand that we were "within range." Leav- ing the woods, we were hurried across an open plain. daring which time we experienced the ideal in the reality of being under fire. Whiz! a man is struck immediately in our front, torn by a solid shot. Rap- i.ily we pushed forward, soon passing into a ravine where we were temporarily shielded from the enemy's fire, though within a short distance of their position. Here we were met by wounded soldiers, disarmed and retreating federals, citizens, and negroes, all crying out, " z' in boys," "the Johnnys are running," " the day i- ours," ete., etc. It was not till half past one that we were formed into line of battle, though it was done as soon as we arrived on the field. Under the cover f a hill our regiment was halted, and the officers at- tempted to form our line. The regiment fronted, and · 'i! what a regiment! How sadly thinmed from what it was in the morning! Nobly it had struggled through
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its fearful march ; nor are those men who fell by the wayside to be remembered with other feelings than those of esteem, because they each and every one did all they could. Every man seemed to realize that a solemn duty rested upon him, and he put forth every exertion to consummate it. No one doubts that the greater portion of those men missing fell from sheer exhaustion. There was fearful blundering somewhere. Let not the blame rest upon the private soldier. for it does not belong there, nor yet upon the officers of the regiment.
Our line was but formed, when, tearing down the hill through the trees came a body of cavalry. In an instant the ery of " Black Horse Cavalry" was sound- ed, and, at the same moment, a shower of balls whis- tled over our heads, causing a beautiful panic on a small scale, in which shoulder-straps were conspicnons. as well as the humbler badges of non-commissioned officers and privates. Being mistaken, however, in the character of the horsemen, the line was speedily re- formed, and in conjunction with the rest of the brig- ade, we moved up the hill, taking a position on the summit. Here we were greeted with a shower of bul- lets, and we were ordered to fire. Fire at what? About five hundred yards in our front was a belt of woods, though not a Johnny in sight. Into this wood we poured our volleys, though wholly ignorant wheth- er our efforts were of any use or not; but still wa worked with a will. Every one was desirous of doing his whole duty, a special illustration of which was
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seen in the action of a captain firing his revolver at a battery at least three-punters of a mile distant. Here we were, probably in full view of the enemy, while not one of their infantry was to be seen. Remarkable strategy; yet I have no doubt the woods were well bombarded. We could see our own batteries wheel- ing off in the distance; yet in our simplicity we deemed it all right and worked on. But what is that ? Clear rings the words, "cease firing," "about face," "in retreat march," and now my pen seems like a balloon, soaring to this point, and at once collapsing. Confu- sion, disorder seized us at once. How we traveled ! Nobody tired now. Every one for himself, and hav- ing a due regard for individuality, each gave special attention to the rapid momentum of his legs. We reached the road, and here all discipline was at an end. Our regiment, like every other, was entirely broken up. Strike for the camp of last night the best you can, was the last direction any one heard. A more heterogeneous complication of regiments could not be conceived. Cavalry and artillery came tearing down the road, infantry here, there, and everywhere. I shall attempt no description of the retreat. There are realities which no words can delineate. It was about eight o'clock in the evening when most of the men arrived at the place of our eamp the previous night. Here we took supper, talked over the incidents of the day (some tow had courage to speak of their own valiant deeds), and, under the impression that we
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could sleep until morning, we lay down upon the ground to rest, terribly tired.
But lo and behold, the end is not yet. Scarcely had we got into a good position to sleep, before we were suddenly awakened to obey the order to move at once. I have no doubt but a great many evil thoughts entered our brains, as we viewed, in a semi- wakeful condition, the prospect of a night-march. If they did, they found very many companions in the ut- tered expressions of many comrades, as they rubbed their eyes and wondered " what was up now." The sky had become overeast, and there was every indica- tion of an approaching storm, as though the elements were desirous of damping our clothes,-even as unex- pected, though indisputable defeat, had dampened our spirits.
We had gone to Bull Run with all sorts of patriotic songs upon our lips,-such as assuring our mothers that "we were thinking of them just before the bat- tle;" "John Brown's body was beautifully dangling in the air;" and promising to "hang Jeff Davis on a sour apple tree," -gone with the bearing and mien of noble soldiery, doubting not but the rebel host- would fly en masse when they saw us coming. But we came back with the expressions of a group of sick kittens, with the bearing of second-best contestants. and undoubtedly sighing within our hearts, "be it ever so humble, there is no place like home" In our advance, many had selected their future residences.
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when secession should have become confiscal 1 : the benefit of the soldiers. In the retreat, me cial attention was given to selecting the shorts: ca: for Washington. Visions in the id: al of lovely villes and gorgeous residences vanished before the re 7 of : forced migration toward the Potomac. But to re- turn,-that is, to return to the thread of our naszative. -- as at that time no one was specially desirous of re- turning toward Bull Run. No, no; we had pressing business nearer the war office.
A little after ten o'clock at night our line was again formed, and, under the valiant charge of officers more frightened than hurt, we moved out on to the tart- pike, the column heading toward Fairfax Cart- house. Silently, I might say sullenly. we =: ved on, little caring what might turn up; for I minst sus that a more crest-fallen set of men than we wie. it would be difficult to conceive of; and I dou': net. that, while our bodies were moving along that faty road that night, our thoughts were moving many 2uz- Ared miles northward, not homesick. oh no. Fr slightly indisposed. The thought, however, this we might recover knapsacks (which had been sep back in our advance to Fairfax Court-house for Ster. and again look over the highly cherished placed therein by loving hands at home, may Elre served to cheer us somewhat. But no, long WEEK. Grived at that point, the ruthless flames fas were ly had destroyed them for the purpose of sewy them from the vandal hands of the rebels. W .....
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oh where was our boasted power? Four hours' march- ing brings us to Fairfax Court-house, and here we are told we shall bivouac until morning. Eagerly we seek our resting-places on the ground, and a moment, almost, is sufficient to bind us in sleep.
"Fall in Fifth Maine." "Fall in rapidly, men." "What's this?" asks many an eye-rubbing soldier, "is it morning?" "Fall in, Company A," " B," "C," "lively." It can't be morning. No; that's true,- scarcely half an hour had passed before we were ordered to march again. "The rebs are in full chase, close upon us," was the remark of some officer who rode a horse. Ah! that does the business; and with- ont even waiting for the command, each man, without any preliminary motions, throws his musket to a "right shoulder shift," ready for the march. Seven- teen miles separate us from Alexandria, we were toll; and by three o'clock, A. M., Monday the 224, we commenced the task of pacing it. No double-quick now, though we move on in good time. With the rising sun comes a rain to add either comfort or dis- comfort to our feelings, yet hugging our smooth bores more closely to ourselves, we continue our course Only once during that march were we allowed t. rest, and then only for a few moments; and though sore and blistered feet were no blessing, yet they re ceived no pity from the shoulder-strapped gentleme! who rode fiery charger-, and who knew about as mue! of the science of commanding men and managing march, as the poor whale did of old with Mr. Jonal
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Their vanity most certainly had experienced a terzi- ble shock ; and as they had got a stomach full of de- feat, and as they did not know how to throw it c= they seemed to vent their spleen upon their men.
But on we toiled, mile after mile, until we arrived within three or four miles of Alexandria, where we found a train of ears upon which we were speedily placed and conveyed to the city. It must be borne iz mind that the whole regiment was not together. a. there.were some stragglers, and, moreover, many 1 ... ] gone toward Washington via Long Bridge; yet very few, comparatively, were absent. Arriving at the de- pot, we looked around us. Where are our command- ing officers? No one knows. "Gone to telegraph that they are all right, and the boys have gone up. says one. "Let's go to Washington," suggests a sec- und, and off we move toward the ferry landing. Bu no, on arriving there, down dashes the commander and demands by what authority we are there. 1.k monkeys why they were not made men, and they could tell about as well. "About thee." is the con- mand, we are all right, we are not going to Washing- ton, no, not we; we ain't going to be branded as cow. ards; are will stay in Alexandria and defend the place if it requires the last man. How glorious! So back- ward through the streets we turn our steps, and are quartered for the night in a large house in one of the principal streets, banking on the floor- in the entri .... while many make their bed on the side-walk, weary. homesick, discouraged, exhausted, almost broken- down.
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Thirty-six hours we have been without sleep, marched forty-four miles or thereabouts, been in the heat of one battle, and what is the result ? An ignomin- ious defeat ! Three simple words, yet how fraught with meaning. They speak of toil, privation, and hardship. They send a shudder through the entire organism of community. They reveal anxiety, care, suffering, dis- tress, disaster. They delineate in thunder tones the horrors of the field of conflict, the heart-rending groans of the wounded and the dying, and the tearing asunder of limb from limb. They speak of death in a hundred dreadful ways. They hear the heart-broken wail of the widowed mother, the shriek of the heart- broken wife, the groan of the sinking, fainting sister, and the fearful suppressed sigh of the agonized father. They speak of poor suffering children whose only sup- port is gone, of broken-down women toiling by the midnight candle to eke out a penny to buy a erust of bread, of cold and cheerless hearthstones, of cold, and hunger, and starvation. They tell us of couches of suffering, where the life of the noble young man and the middle-aged man are surely and rapidly wasting away, with no one near to love, to soothe, or caress. They tell us, who can write or even imagine? they tell us, I say, of horrid and loathsome dungeons, of filthy prisons, of heavy creaking doors and chains, of darkness, of tyranny and abuse, to which our brothers are consigned, month after mouth, because they loved their country. Need I add more? Aye: I cannot restrain my pen. Yes; they do tell us, nor can it be
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hid, of the disappointed schemes of designing politi- cians, of the hurry and eagerness of members of Con- gress and office-holders to see the "fun; " of sordid, selfish curiosity to witness a fight; indifference in pushing men on to death that their own desires may be gratifie.1; selecting the holy sabbath day for the enactment of their farce, that no time may be lost to the business world; and this last is put in the balance to weigh against the former. Aye; the blood of hun- dre ls slaughtered that day will ery up to Jehovah, and He will hear.
Upon the whole, the regiment stood the toils and privations of the march quite well. That the men were weary, almost exhausted, upon their arrival at Alexandria, all must confess. That our ideas of mili- tary glory were considerably depreciated from what they might have been when reading the histories of Na- poleon, finds its trath in the half-uttered imprecations upon every han 1, upon that act which changed the garments of civilian black to the army gray (at this time the uniforms were gray, afterwards changed to bine). Whoever may be censurable for many of the blunders of that fight, it is certainly evident that the officers of the Fifth Maine discharged their duties as well as could be expected under the severe double- qnick march. To the writer's knowledge there were no instances of cowardice nor of disposition to shirk bity. While no reflection is to be east upon any regi- mental officer, the citing of a single instance may not by improper; and only justice demands that the true
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