USA > New Hampshire > A history of the Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment, Volunteer Infantry in the rebellion war, 1861-1865, pt 1 > Part 20
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Spies and persons in citizen's dress, found lurking in our lines with hostile intent, should be immediately turned over to the provost guard.
Prisoners of war, wounded or not, should be treated with that sol- dierly kindness and consideration which the Ninth Corps has always honorably shown, and which is due an open enemy.
The General Commanding desires to express to the Ninth Corps that he feels the same confidence in them now that he has ever felt in times past, and has ever found just cause for feeling. He believes that they will do their duty thoroughly and heartily on all occasions, and under all circumstances.
By command of Major-General Burnside,
EDWARD M. NEILL, Assistant Adjutant-General.
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For a most vivid description of camp life at Annapolis and the march to the Wilderness, I insert the following account, written by Comrade Herman J. Eaton, Com- pany E :
FROM THE RAPIDAN TO THE JAMES: OR, THE GREAT CAMPAIGN OF IS64.
PART I. IN CAMP AT ANNAPOLIS. *
from the tents,
The armourers, accomplishing the Knights, With busy hammers closing rivets up, Gave dreadful note of preparation."
-King Henry V.
" You that survive and you that sleep in fame, Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all That in your country's service drew your swords." -Julius Caesar.
The camp-ground of the Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment at Annapolis was about one mile west of the city, basking in the April sunshine,
" High on a mound ; from whence in prospect lay The fields, the tents, the navy, and the bay."
There were no trees very near the camp, such as had so often shaded us when on former occasions we had pitched our tents for a short rest after the long marches and the heat of battle. Had it been in midsummer, we should have suffered under the hot rays of the sun without any pro- tection save our houses of canvas ; but long before the sun of summer shone upon us we were far away, where work was hotter than the rays of old .. Sol." as he beamed upon us through the pine forests south of Spottsylvania. Across the parade-ground, and only a short distance from camp, the long railway trains steamed past many times during the day, and until a late hour at night. South of
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us, and just across the railroad, was the convalescent camp with its many newly whitewashed barracks where a large number of invalid soldiers were quartered, and everything was as still and solemn upon those grounds as though it was a graveyard.
To the east of us the quaint old city stood in full view, with its ancient state-house, large brick buildings, and slender church spires pointing to heaven. There. upon that large and elevated camp-ground. the Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Corps, rested and recruited from the hard and fatiguing campaign which they had just passed through in Tennessee. At Annapolis the brigade was entirely changed (as were many other brigades and divisions), and put in thorough working order for another and a greater campaign, surpassing all others in severe battles and hurried marches. The old Second Brigade, Second Division. Ninth Corps, was formerly composed of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania, the Fifty-first New York, the Twenty-first and the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts, the Eleventh New Hampshire, and. later, the Second Mary- land. All of these regiments, save the Eleventh New Hampshire and the Second Maryland, were transferred to other brigades in the corps, where they remained during the war.
These regiments left the brigade with heavy hearts ; the men of the Eleventh were moved even to tears to see the organization broken up. We had soldiered together, and followed the fortunes of that famous brigade in sun- shine and in storm since October, 1862, when we were encamped in Pleasant Valley, Maryland. We had marched and fought side by side in Virginia, passed the memorable winter together at Falmouth, where the en- campment formed a hollow square, marched upon the hard, smooth pikes and encamped on the green grass of Kentucky, kept step to the music of the Union far away
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in Mississippi under a broiling sun, advanced into the jaws of death at Jackson, and had eaten rations of dry. corn at the siege of Knoxville. "Good-bye, old com- rade, good-bye" was heard from all, as each regiment left the camp-ground and slowly marched away, each pledging that should we ever be so fortunate as to meet again, it would recall to mind the battles, sieges, and other experiences through which we had passed.
The new Second Brigade was composed of the Sixth, the Ninth, and the Eleventh New Hampshire, the Second Maryland, the Thirty-first and the Thirty-second Maine, and the Seventeenth Vermont ;- the last three were fresh from their homes, or, as we veteran soldiers expressed it, they were "right out of the top drawer spick-span clean." There were a great many young men in the new regiments, who were mustered with souls all aglow. Fired by patriot- ism and the charms of war, they rallied to the support of the old flag just in time to see war portrayed in all its glory. Like those who had preceded them, "I'm off for the war !" was the rallying cry.
"I'm twenty-three, and five feet nine : I'll go and be a sojer."
They had but little knowledge of what it was to be a soldier, and, like all regiments that preceded them, were " spoiling for a fight," but ere one month had passed, their ambition in that direction had subsided wonder- fully ; nevertheless, they proved to be as good soldiers as ever marched forth to battle.
The Second Brigade was commanded by Brigadier- General S. G. Griffin, and the Second Division by Brig- adier-General R. B. Potter who had been the commander for some time. Major-General Burnside commanded the Ninth Corps, as he had always done, with the exception of a few months. since its organization.
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The short stay of the Ninth Corps at Annapolis was a pleasant one, and one that will, without doubt, long be remembered by the veterans who were there during those ever memorable April days of 1864. It differed in many respects from that of any other rest in camp we ever expe- rienced. This was probably owing to the campaign that was about to open. We were, in reality, lying under the enemy's fire. awaiting the order to advance; conse- quently the camp savored of war more than usual, and the instructions we daily received were, to be alert and vigilant ; to kill, destroy, and trample under foot " all enemies and opposers whomsoever."
Passes were often furnished us to go to the city, where there were numerous places of interest to visit, one of which was the state-house, from the cupola of which a magnificent view of the surrounding country could be had, also a peep at the sun-kissed waters of the Chesa- peake, freckled with its many oyster-boats and steamers en route to Baltimore, that left a dense cloud of smoke under the clear blue sky. The room in which General Washington delivered his farewell address was by far the most interesting, and large numbers are admitted every year. It is the first room at the right of the east entrance.
Colonel Harriman used his influence to get the regi- ment a furlough for twenty days, but all his pleadings with the war department were in vain, as there was work to be done, and a movement might be ordered before the regiment could return. A very few men from each regi- ment in the corps were granted a furlough of ten days only. It was pleasant to see the friends at home, but the sad good-bye at the expiration of the time caused the shedding of many bitter tears, and spoiled all the pleas- ure there was connected with it. For many it was the last visit to their loved ones, for as soon as the great con- test began, they laid down their lives on Freedom's altar.
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As far as the eye could reach, the encampment was a perfect city of white tents, of the pattern known as the wedge, or A tent. As the tents were at an equal distance apart, and the company streets of an equalized width, it added greatly to the general appearance of the camp : it was, in fact, a city peculiar to itself, where the homes were all alike and every man was dressed in blue. So accustomed had we become to camp life and the rules of war, that our movements when on drill or otherwise were made in accordance with military tactics. It was not to be wondered at, then, that the camp was so often visited by people from the cities and surrounding .towns. At almost any hour during the day could be seen the long lines of blue on drill, and the quick. sharp order from the officer in command would ring out in clear tones. At five o'clock in the afternoon occurred dress-parade, where thousands of muskets, handled with military precision, flashed in the waning sunlight, presenting a picture of war in all its pomp and power. The encampment at night presented a very fine appearance. Countless thou- sands of tent lights-star candles, stuck on boards or on bayonets-glimmered for miles around, converting the tents into mammoth white lanterns, making an illumina- tion of rare beauty. The camp songs that were sung, and the merry laughter that rang out at stories told under the calm star-lit sky. I can hear now as in the long ago, although it seems but yesterday. Patriotic songs, with which the army was well supplied, were sung with a spirit suited to a time of war, the many well trained voices joining heartily in .. When Johnny comes marching home," and
" We'll all join the Union. And night for Uncle Sam."
Other songs chimed in at intervals, and for awhile "Sally, come up" was the favorite. A Confederate
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officer once said,-" It is no wonder that the Federal army was victorious, it had so many patriotic songs to inspire it. The Confederates had hardly one they could call their own, and while in camp or on the march, or on the eve of battle, there were no patriotic songs to arouse the troops, as there were in the Federal army. Why, I would have given all the world for a few such songs." Without a doubt there was a good deal of truth in this statement. "Dixie" and " Bonny Blue Flag" were about all the Confederates had, and the first of these was a Northern production. This is one more evi- dence that the South was fighting on the wrong side. The ear-piercing fife and the soul-stirring drum were heard the live-long day, seemingly without cessation. Look in any direction we might, nothing greeted the eye and ear but preparation for war.
About half a mile from the Second Brigade was the encampment of the colored troops, a division of whom had just been added to the Ninth Corps, who were the subject of much comment by the newspapers through- out the country. While in camp they were chuck full of their monkey-shines and oddities, some of which were very amusing. As a punishment for some offence they had committed. it was no uncommon thing to see them at- different places upon the camp-ground standing upon the head of a barrel, while another barrel. with one end knocked out and a hole cut in the other end just large enough to allow a man's head to pass through, was then dropped upon the offender, the barrel resting upon his shoulders. A soldier receiving such punishment pre- sented a very ludicrous appearance : it reminded one of a man dressed in a huge wooden overcoat. This mode of punishment was very common the first two years of the war, but, as the battles and the hard marching increased, it got to be an old story, and was dropped.
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Another way of punishing a soldier, and more espe- cially among the colored troops, was to place two forked uprights in the ground, ten or twelve feet apart and about the same in height, a pole or a crossbar about six inches in diameter placed in the forks. The culprit was then compelled to sit astride of the pole or crossbar for one or two hours, which made the American soldier of African descent roll out his eyes wonderfully. One day while passing through their camp, I asked a burly fellow who was thus elevated upon the crossbar, what he was doing up there. "I's doin' nuffin'; I's only settin' here, dat's all." he answered ; and a peculiar twist of his face plainly told that his position was anything but a comfortable one. He followed up the conversation by saying, "I 'spects yer white sojers nebber gits punished in dis yer way, duz yer ?" I was sorry to inform him that such cases were common in nearly every brigade, which seemed to relieve his mind exceedingly. Then he made a wry face, grunted, twisted. turned, and squirmed in trying to find a soft place upon the crossbar. Truly, thought I, "The way of the transgressor is hard." On my way back to camp. and in passing an encampment of white troops adjoining that of the Second Brigade, I saw S., whom I well knew. walking in front of the colonel's quarters, carrying a heavy stick of wood about four feet in length and one foot in diameter. "Hello !" said I, "what are you doing with that stick of wood?" " Doing with it ? D-n it. I'm carrying it-don't you see?" was his reply, as he shifted the log to the other shoulder. The colored soldier over yonder was not alone that afternoon in paying for offences committed.
It was very amusing to watch the dashing colored girls flock to the camp to see their lovers dressed in army blue at "Uncle Sam's" expense, and drilling " for sojers." Of course " Liza " blubbered a little, and slopped
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over at the eyes, as "Clim" chucked her under the chin and sang,-
"Oh! I's gwine away fur to leab you, Oh, good-bye, good-bye! Oh! I's gwine away fur to leab you, Oh, good-bye, Liza Jane !"
The colored troops were very proud of their . position in "Uncle Sam's" grand army. As they had been con- fined in slavery ever since they were born, it was not surprising that they could hardly believe that they were free-at liberty to do as they pleased with no fear of the lash-and that they were soon to march forth to battle by the side of the white troops, whom they had long hon- ored and respected as "Massa Linkum's men." To them, the year 1864 was to be a year of jubilee. They were willing to fight for their liberty, and on many battle- fields they did good service.
" So still and orderly, arm to arm, knee to knee,
Waiting the great event, stood the black regiment."
The phrase once so common, "The colored troops fought nobly," had more truth than many people sup- pose. When the Confederate soldiers were questioned as to why they were fighting against the old flag, they usually replied by saying, " We are fighting for our rights," but were unable to tell what rights had been denied them. Could not the colored troops use the same words with far more truthfulness ?
As they listened so attentively to the orders that were read to them when on dress-parade, watched and ques- tioned the white soldiers in order to learn what they could about the coming conflict. they, at times, failed to grasp the thought that they were free, and appeared amazed and bewildered. As the time for action drew near, they understood the situation much better, and their fears were in a great degree removed.
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Their confidence in General Grant as a leader was as unbounded as that of the white troops. To them he ranked next to " Massa Linkum," the liberator of their race, and, like their white comrades in arms, they were .desirous of seeing what was lying across their path, far in the front. The old song was very appropriate in their case,-
" 'T won't be long fore de orders- fore de orders- Soon we'll be a gittin' 'em-de orders to advance ; Den eb'ry man in de column to his duty- Show what's de value ob de chance."
PART II. INN CAMP AT ANNAPOLIS-CONTINUED.
"All was prepared-the fire, the sword, the men
To wield them, in their terrible array."-Ode on W'ar.
Near noon of April 13 every regiment in the Ninth Corps stood upon their color lines, where they were reviewed by Generals Grant and Burnside. Every man was dressed in a new suit of blue, and all his military bear- ing was exercised to its full capacity-head erect. eyes to the front, muskets polished till they shone like silver, equipments neatly blacked, and the brass plates on belts and cartridge-boxes, upon which were inscribed the initials of our illustrious uncle, brightened up with all the skill a well trained hand could give. Swiftly the officers galloped from regiment to regiment, reviewing the troops as they stood in line, thereby saving the time and trouble of the corps . passing in review," as is usu- ally done at such times. Probably, the fact that General Grant did not care about making such an ostentatious display of fine marching, flying of colors, flourishing of trumpets. and beating of drums, was the reason why he
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did not have the corps pass in review ; that part of the war had had its day with his predecessors, and was not to be repeated unless it was absolutely necessary. He wanted troops for the front. there to make a display with all the fire and fury of war; and, on the way to famous Richmond town, it was soon to be enacted.
Those who never saw a military review in a time of war have indeed missed a grand spectacle. I say in a time of war, for all military displays in a time of peace amount to very little, except to attract the attention of the young ladies. A review, such as was seen in war times. caused one to be wrapt in amazement to see how still and erect twenty-five thousand-and sometimes more-men could stand in line, or a solid body ; every movement being strictly in accordance with orders from the reviewing general, which were given in that peculiar voice that only the accustomed ear can understand. The movement known as " passing in review" is espe- cially fine. The troops, standing in a solid body, or in the marching column drawn out in long array, are one huge, beautiful mass of blue, as if a patch of sky had fallen to earth. Their muskets are tipped with bur- nished bayonets. and their flashing swords glisten in the sunlight : armor reflects armor. Countless thousands of disciplined men. with martial step and ears attuned to strenuous call of trumpet and drum. move with the preci- sion of machines, and the sway of the column in its uni- son of step gives a special grandeur to the living picture. Strength and force are most vividly portrayed there ; as when, in the frenzy of battle, the Titans of old forged the keen-edged sickle of destruction in the red lightning's tlame. Well trained horses prance, champ the bit, and snort. seemingly with a thorough military knowledge, showing how well they love the excitement, pomp. power, and all the fine trappings of war,-evidently well
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pleased that they too compose a part of the grand army that is to save the nation. Shining cannon, full of wrath, stand out in bold defiance, or, drawn by fiery steeds, pass along with a dull, heavy rumble. Upon those bat- tle-scarred war-dogs can be read the words Death and Destruction. How many pent-up thunders are sleeping within those tubes of steel and brass the next carnage will tell.
A review presents a picture of a wonderfully exciting nature, and one that will never fade from the memory of those who have witnessed it. Ladies who have been present upon such occasions have been heard to remark, "I wish that I were a soldier." If the male population of the North had been blessed with as much patriotism as "woman, weak woman." Uncle Sam's army would have been much larger than it was, and the war would not have lasted four long years. The grandest, the most exciting, and the most sublime of all military move- ments is that of an army advancing to battle. Their impetuous rush, their immeasurable strength, their fierce aspect and gigantic bulk, make up a picture of heroic daring and resolve which none ever saw save those who composed the assaulting column. The sight of the old flag, the "invincible banner of the free." at such a peril- ous moment, amid the smoke and tumult of battle, is one of rare beauty, and cannot be described. Now, as the veteran sees it peacefully waving from its high staff, how vividly the days of the " sixties " loom up before him, when he saw it waving in the blue, sulphurous smoke upon the field of conflict ; and he remembers those of his comrades who so persistently fought for its maintenance and perished in the noble cause. Nor is this all : at the very thought of their desperate encounters and hair- breadth escapes, he " seizes his crutch, and shows how fields were won." No spectators or reporters dared to
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venture there. A more correct account would have been published in the papers, during our civil strife, had the latter ventured within the sound of the enemy's guns.
To the soldier, a review is a hard day's work, one or two days usually being spent in making necessary preparations, cleaning guns and equipments, and going through all the movements in military tactics. When the day arrives, every regiment marches to the field with a slow and measured step, there to stand in the ranks. as still and erect as a monument, waiting for orders. The troops standing thus in the field execute every movement with a " snap." So perfect are all the evolutions, that to the observer they appear to move by machinery. This kind of work, in the closely wedged ranks for several hours, is very tiresome, especially on a warm day.
The abundant rations issued to us at Annapolis were of the best quality, or about the same as at Newport News the year before. Newport News and Annapolis were the only places where full rations were ever issued to us. This was not the fault of the government, however. for that dealt honorably by every man in the army. When on a campaign, we did not expect to get full rations ; if We succeeded in getting quarter rations we were doing Well, as they could not be transported. but the deficiency should have been made good to us in money, which was never done. I well remember buying rations of the com- missary of a Michigan regiment while we were at Mill- dale. Miss., that he had no right to sell. and who would or should have been reprimanded for so doing had it been reported. As a result of this, one or two hungry fel- lows were thus deprived of what justly belonged to them, and the money I paid went into the commissary's pocket. While at Annapolis our rations were spiced with cake, pies, and fresh biscuits, that were sold in camp by pretty girls from Baltimore, who arrived on the morning train.
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As a general thing, the prettiest girl succeeded in dispos- ing of her basket of wares first. at pretty good prices too. Who does not remember the cake and pie peddlers who flocked to camp, wherever we chanced to be, with baskets of peculiar shape filled with cakes, pies, biscuits, and "fresh biled eggs"? Who does not remember the old colored woman whom we always called " Aunty "? They were all "Aunties" as they came to our camp with their well filled baskets upon their heads, inviting us all to buy their " nice chicken-pie right from de oven." Who does not remember rolling upon the ground with the colic in consequence of eating rich fruit-cake or hard-boiled eggs. and praying for a little of Perry Davis's Pain-Killer? Pastry and cake were not adapted to a soldier's life by any means, and when it came into camp richly made, as it did at Annapolis. we were obliged to eat sparingly of it, or suffer the consequences after luxuriating on hard- tack and boiled beef : hence the short way of speaking of it. There was another extreme, also, in the cake and pie business, right the reverse of the one just mentioned. where the pies were made with the shortening put in lengthwise, and were commonly called " sewed pies." which could be rolled about camp without breaking. Falmouth pies, that were made and sold in that quaint old town in the winter of 1862- 63, were made of mate- rial that no stomach but that of an ostrich could digest : they were like the shield of Ajax. There was little choice between eating a Falmouth pie and facing a rebel battery. Whether they were genuine Southern pies, such as were made " befo' de wah." I don't know.
While at Annapolis every man had a new suit of blue, equipments, knapsack, haversack, canteen, and all the paraphernalia of war. Ammunition was not issued until later, when we were encamped at Bristoe station within two days' march of the enemy's lines. We did have
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twenty rounds per man, however, to use, should our ad- vance from Washington to Bristoe be opposed. General Grant changed the order of things somewhat, sending the ammunition by the wagon trains or by rail to Bristoe. in place of our relieving the teams as on former occa- sions. I can recall more than one instance where ammu- nition was piled on the men at the rate of sixty rounds per man, and sometimes more. When leaving our camp at Milldale for the march to Oak Ridge, in the rear of Vicksburg. the captain of Company E ordered quite a number of men, myself included, to carry eighty rounds, giving as a reason that the trains were overloaded and it would be too bad to waste it. Did we carry it? Yes, about twenty-five yards, when half of it was deposited at the roots of an old oak. A goodly number of the wives of the officers of the Eleventh Regiment visited the camp during our sojourn at Annapolis, and for the first time saw the tented field with all the pride and pomp of glorious war. To them their short stay was doubtless a pleasant one, and one that they will long remember.
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