USA > New Hampshire > History of the Twelfth regiment, New Hampshire volunteers in the war of the rebellion > Part 7
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Not much in the edible line save fruits, preserves, etc., was found ready for the table : but the material was not lacking, and " corn pone," biscuit, doughnuts, and fritters, with fried ham and eggs, pork steak, and chicken stew, were among the many dishes on the bill of fare at some of the free lunch houses in the city.
It was a rare opportunity for hungry soldiers, and was so well improved that the waist-belts of many of the self-invited guests to the rich feast had to be let out an inch or two to give full play to the respira- tory organs.
There was also the sound of song and music to enliven the feast, although in many cases there was more sound than symphony, and " Yankee Doodle," " Old John Brown," " Red White and Blue," " Rally Round the Flag," " When Johnny Goes Marching Home," and many other amusing and patriotic songs were sung with violin and piano accompaniment ; while others equally as fond of music, but less able to produce it at their fingers' ends, would undertake to interpret the " Devil's Dream " by the spirit-prompted taps and raps of the toe and heel.
Some of the houses were filled with costly furniture and rare collec- tions of nature and art to interest and adorn, the families having only time to gather up some of the most valuable before vacating.
It would be as foolish as it is false to deny, that from such houses as well as others, many a bric-a-brac specimen was taken as a keepsake reminder of the city of Fredericksburg, and that some of these may be found, safely kept in northern homes to-day.
That articles of little or no intrinsic value should be thus appropriated, and free use made of all articles of food, was no more than, under the circumstances, could have been expected : but there were doubtless many other things of more value and importance taken or destroyed for which the author regrettingly acknowledges no justification or excuse, unless it may be said in extenuation of the wrong that the wealthy and educated citizens of the South included nearly all the political leaders that were looked upon by the northern soldiers as the treasonable instigators of the terrible war that had been forced upon the country, and that their property, if not their lives, was rightfully beneath the hand of the avenger. In addition to this was the fact, patent and palpable. that to carry out their own purpose of destroying the Government they did not hesitate to
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destroy their own property, as they had already done to a great extent throughout the city, which was likely to be swept again with shot and shell, if not by the flames, before the battle was over.
As it was, there were comparatively few houses in the city that had not been struck one or more times by shot from the Union or Confederate cannon - by the former when trained upon the city to drive out the rebel sharpshooters on the 11th, and by the latter in trying to kill and demoralize the Federal forces after they had taken possession of the city.
Some had been torn and shattered by the artillery, until little more or better than standing wrecks in the midst of waste and ruin. Several had been set on fire, and but for the timely efforts of the Federal soldiers the whole city would quickly have been reduced to ashes. So, rightly con- sidered, the inhabitants of the city had quite as much for which to thank as curse the Yankee troops, since a home invaded is better than a home destroyed.
Just before dark, while the men were preparing for another sidewalk bivouac and speculating upon the probability of passing a night as undisturbed as the day, the regiment received orders to move ; and reluc- tantly exchanging a supper of buckwheat fritters for the stern reality and hard experience of war, marched out again to the support of a battery near the canal.
Here it remained until about 9 o'clock, when a startling volley of musketry, a little to the left, breaks the stillness of the night, and imme- diately there is a commotion strange and unexpected in the city. For some reason not easily explained - unless because suddenly awakened and frightened by the volley - the dogs commenced to bark and howl, filling the air with every note in the canine gamut, from the sharp, shrill snap of the stub-nosed png to the deep-toned, doleful howl of the relentless bloodhound, until it seemed that every dog in the city, as well as many of the hogs and cows that joined in the chorus, had determined upon a midnight attack in the rear.
Concerning this loud outbreak of the brute creation Corporal Musgrove wrote as follows : " The dogs in the city set up the most hideous howling, the cows and even the pigs joining in the chorus. It seemed as if all the hosts of hell were let loose in the city."
Soon after this uproar of dismal and mournful sounds had subsided, the battery was relieved, and the regiment moved a little further into the open field and took position between Piatt's and Carroll's brigades near the canal.
Here the men rolled themselves in their blankets as they lay upon the ground, the wind blowing so hard that it was difficult to keep covered, and some, unable longer to keep watchful eyes, soon fell asleep, -
" Lulled by the night wind, and pillowed on the ground."
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New Hampshire Volunteers.
At 2.30 A. M., Colonel Potter received orders to occupy the ground between the reservoir and the Kenmore house, and to establish pickets from that house to unite with the pickets of Carroll's brigade. For this purpose Companies F and C were detached to hold that position, while the remainder of the regiment marched back into the city and formed a line on Princess Anne street, in front of General Whipple's headquarters and near the same place it occupied on the afternoon of Saturday.
Colonel Marsh was sent out to establish the line of the two companies, and by his orders twelve men in charge of Sergeant Randolph, of Com- pany C, were advanced and deployed as a vedette line about fifty paces in front. Scarcely was this done when the moon, which was just coming up, as if unwilling to disclose their position to the enemy, covered herself with dark clouds, and soon the rain poured down in torrents, washing the earth from under the men as they lay still and watchful upon their faces on the hillside.
The situation of the Federal army was now becoming every hour more critical. To advance was impossible ; to remain where it was much longer, defied fate and invited ruin ; and to retreat was extremely hazardous.
It is no longer a secret that General Burnside, upon the disastrous failure of the 13th, became furiously impetuous and determined to renew the attack the next day. regardless of the chances, if he had to lead the assault himself. And it is said that General Lee at a council of war on the night of the 15th, was advised by General Jackson to "drive the Yankees into the river." Lucky indeed for the Union army and cause, that the one did, and the other did not listen to his advisers.
At 5 o'clock the regiment left its position in the city and retreated across the river.
But Companies F and C, where were they? Alas ! they had been left without notice or warning of their danger, and were still in the face of the enemy, anxiously intent to discover any movement in their front, while all unconscious of the movements, more important to them, that were silently going on in their rear.
But though left, they were not forgotten by Colonel Marsh, who asked permission of General Whipple to go back and take them off, but was refused for fear the attempt at so late an hour would hazard the safety of all the troops not yet across the river. Later, when most of the forces had crossed safely over, the request was renewed, but was again refused, as it was then almost daylight, and could only result, as was feared, in bringing a storm of iron hail upon the pontoon bridges and the regiments still within reach of the enemy's guns. Beside, the colonel was told by General Whipple, that his orders were strict to see that no field or staff officer of his command was left to be captured by the enemy, as the colonel would surely be if he made the attempt. But Colonel Marsh was not the man to let possible contingencies deter him from what he consid-
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History of the Twelfth Regiment
ered a present duty, or to excuse himself therefrom by pleading a major- general's approval or disapproval.
His resolution was fixed, but before he could act he must obey the direct command of his superior to cross the river with his regiment.
No sooner were his horse's feet on the opposite shore,-to gain which he was so impatient as to order an army blacksmith's wagon that impeded the regiment's progress to be thrown into the river, against the angry protests of the driver, who threatened to report him to General Hooker, - than he turned his head toward the city, and waiting only long enough to reply to Colonel Potter's remonstrance, " I posted the men there, and I shall take them off or be taken with them," he put spurs to his horse and dashed back across the river, ordering the men who had already commenced to take up the bridge to desist until he could bring down the troops that had been left.
Riding out as far as he dared, without attracting the attention of the rebel pickets, for it was now daylight, he dismounted, and hitching his horse, hurried forward on foot until near enough to whisper his orders to Captain Langley, of Company F, to notify Lieutenant Smith, in command of Com- pany C, and all followed him as quickly and quietly as possible to the river. It was now a race instead of a march, until the Rappahannock was once more between them and the foe from whom they had so narrowly escaped. But in the unexpected call and hurry to obey, the vedettes had been for- gotten, and but for sheer good luck would have been captured. One of the men as he lay on the ground thought he heard some movement of men behind them, and reported the same to Sergeant Randolph, who sent back Corporal Osgood to the reserve to ascertain and report the cause. Day- light was already dispelling the darkness, and it took the corporal but a few minutes to discover that their reserve had left, and that a battery near by had also gone. Sergeant Randolph, who had served in the English army, was too good a soldier not to understand the full meaning of this, and lost no time in taking his squad, "single file, trail arms, double- quick," to the river, just in time to cross before the bridge was taken up, section after section being swung into the stream close behind them.
The eight companies that first crossed had marched some distance toward their old camping-ground before Sergeant Randolph and his men had left their posts in front of the enemy. And when they, with the two companies left behind, came in, led by their valiant rescuer, cheer after cheer rent the air for Colonels Potter and Marsh - for the former, because it was believed he had saved the regiment from useless slaughter, and for the latter, because it was already known, that he had saved two companies from certain capture. Sergeant Randolph also came in for his share of praise for his good judgment and prompt action in saving his men on the extreme outposts.
This was the first manifestation by the regiment of good will for Colonel Potter. Before this, for want of mutual appreciation, there had been but
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New Hampshire Volunteers.
little sympathy between him and his men. But the bond of heart-welding union then formed has never been broken.
After five days of severe exposure, and at this time of general good luck and good feeling, the colonel thought it a proper occasion for the commissary to roll out a barrel of whiskey, which was accordingly done. and dealt out to the men by the gill ; many getting a double portion by drawing the rations of those who were temperance men in the army as well as out. But drenched to the skin as they were, and still raining, perhaps the men who refused their rations were more ultra and less reasonable than those who drank them.
Thus ends the history of the Twelfth at Fredericksburg.
CHAPTER IV.
THE MUD MARCH AND WINTER AT FALMOUTHI.
Upon returning to their old quarters it became known to the officers and men, for the first time, that a serious joke or an egregious blunder had been played or made by someone in their absence, as the bitter com- plaints of the sick who had been left behind as camp guard, fully attested.
It seems that on the second day after the regiment had left, an officer rode into camp, and told them that the orders were, that every man who could possibly walk and carry a gun should report to his regiment at Fredericksburg at once.
This, as can easily be imagined, created quite a commotion among the invalid home-guard, some of whom were doubtless stouter in body than at heart ; and most of those who could, packed up and started, not, how- ever, without many vehement protests and not a little grumbling from those who, being the best able to go, had the least reason to complain.
After marching as fast as they could - half of them nearly falling out by the way- the few that reached the river opposite Fredericksburg were a sick and sickly looking squad indeed.
No sooner were their presence and condition made known, than they were ordered back to their camp quarters again.
There was much indignation felt and expressed by the officers, and especially Dr. Fowler, at so cruel and unwarrantable an order; but no one seemed to know who authorized or who brought it. It not only unnecessarily harassed and exposed the sick, but left the camp and all there was left therein almost entirely unprotected. A court of inquiry was talked about among the officers, but nothing was ever done about it.
General Burnside had tried and failed, but the Army of the Potomac, though sadly diminished in numbers and wanting in esprit de corps, was still intact and strong enough to oppose any aggressive movement of the enemy.
The great question now asked in and out of the armies, both North and South, and that which especially troubled the minds of our chief directors at Washington was, " What next?"
The loyal North, still trustful of its ever true and loyal army upon which the Government now solely depended for a name and place among the nations of the earth, readily, though almost tremblingly, responded, " Try again"; and the brave and unconquerable heroes of that army,
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New Hampshire Volunteers.
whose names should be as imperishable as their deeds, answered back, " We are ready, but give us a leader."
But those belonging to the anti-war faction of the loval States, who loved peace so well as to be willing to accept it at the price of their country's dishonor and ruin, said the next thing to come would be what they had confidently predicted from the first, " Foreign intervention and a recognition of the Southern Confederacy"; that the " abolition war" must soon stop, or blood would surely flow in the streets of our northern cities.
To all this the great Head of the Nation, and commander-in-chief of its armies and navy, patiently listened, determined not to act, even in the direction of the popular demand, without the most careful and thorough investigation as to who was responsible for the uncompensated loss of life at Fredericksburg.
From this to the end of the year nothing of importance occurred in the army or of interest to the regiment, except a visit of Hon. John P. Hale who was gladly received in the camps of all the New Hampshire regi- ments, and honored by reviews of most, or all of the division commands in which these regiments were found.
One could not help thinking of the time when he stood alone in the national senate chamber in his valiant fight for " free men and free soil," nor wondering at the mighty change in the public mind that a few short years had wrought.
Then, not only the Senate, but the House of Representatives, the execu- tive patronage and power, the Supreme Court, and, greater than all, - and therefore here emphasized and personified, - public opinion were strongly and unitedly against him : now, all the other way, and the posi- tion that he then manfully took and bravely maintained single handed and alone, regardless of threats, obloquy, and ridicule, had not only the approval of every branch of the Government but was being defended by more than a quarter of a million men in the field.
January 1, 1863, those present for duty in the regiment appeared on dress-parade in dark blue dress coats, worn for the first time, and sky blue pants drawn from the quartermaster but a few days before.
They looked very much in color, though sadly wanting in number, as when they first donned their uniforms at Camp Belknap.
Colonel Marsh after the parade exercises made a short speech to the men, alluding to their fine appearance in their new clothes and good deportment, and ended by wishing them all a happy New Year. The chaplain then offered up a fervent prayer for their lives, their homes, and their country.
Thus pleasantly, if not auspiciously, commenced the new year that before its end was to bring so much suffering and sorrow to many brave hearts and loyal homes.
From this until the 20th the weather was quite warm and pleasant, and
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History of the Twelfth Regiment
General Burnside, determined to retrieve himself if possible, was making the days and hours busy with drills, inspections, and reviews, prepara- tory to another advance, which, as if the very fates were against him, was destined to be equally as ineffectual, though not as disastrous as the other.
On the 16th came marching orders.
The regiment was to move "to-morrow at daylight with three days' rations and sixty rounds of cartridges." The 17th this order was countermanded, and another given to march at 10 o'clock the next day.
This order was also countermanded before the hour of its execution, but later in the day came new orders, positive and emphatic, to march at the hour of 2 P. M.
.. No more fooling now," said the boys, " for you .can always safely bet on the third time, even from . Old Burned-Side.'" But new rulers break okl rules, and so the old "third time " rule was broken that same day by another countermand!
At last on the 20th, after three or four days of strange delay in drill- ing his army to get ready before it started, General Burnside gave the fourth and final order to march, which this time was allowed to stand, so far at least as the Twelfth Regiment was concerned, until it had marched about half a mile, when a halt was called and continued through the whole afternoon and evening, and then - it marched back to camp again. If the reader could use his ears instead of his eyes and listen to what was then said by the soldiers he would soon learn the rank and file dialect of " the army in Flanders," and wonder how the Govern- ment could be so indifferent to the spiritual welfare of the army, as to allow but one chaplain to a regiment. He would also, if not too piously inclined, be greatly amused at the wit and sarcasm that the quick- tongued talkers would manage to sprinkle in between their impious expletives.
· ·· Well, Bill, what in - does this mean?"
" Mean? it's mcan enough, God knows, in one sense, but it's too simple to mean anything like common sense."
" I can tell you what it means, Dick ; it means that ' Old Burned-Side' forgot to countermand his last order to march, this morning. I was afraid he was making a - fool of himself, by starting before he got ready, all the time."
" He's waiting now for his pontoons, I guess," chimed in the fourth, minus the oath.
" I should think from the present outlook (already raining) he'd better order mud-scows," replies the fifth, with more of prophecy than was then suspected.
" Oh, say, boys ! can you tell me why this army is like a young frog?"
This conundrum comes from a new speaker, who had evidently been thinking while the rest were talking, for all things original are born of
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New Hampshire Volunteers.
thought, and is followed by several answers from as many comrades : " Because it is always out when it rains." " Because it is always found in a mud-puddle."
" We'll give it up, Artemus ; why is it?"
" Because it's got a - little head for so long a tail."
" Pretty good, my boy ; hit him again."
And then there is a general laugh, followed by continued banter and debate, until the sweet-briars and laurel-roots are all emptied, and there comes the usual "tip-tap" reminder that silence and sleep is the order of the hour.
There was also much discussion among the men whether there would be another start, or attempt to start, on the morrow. And upon this ques- tion there was about an equal division, many reasons being given pro and con.
But at noon the next day, when it was quite unanimously agreed that there would be no further attempt to move for two or three days at least, the rain having poured down incessantly since the evening before, orders were again issued to march.
Amid a storm of curses, from officers and men, they reluctantly make ready again to meet the more pitiless storm of the elements raging outside.
After three or four miles of wearisome mud-punching, there is a spread of shelter-tents in the woods, beneath which seventy thousand men seek scanty protection from the cold, sleet, and rain of such a night as can only be fully realized by those who experienced it.
The next day comes and goes, but the Army of the Potomac moves not, for it is stuck fast in the mud. Never perhaps was a great army in a more helpless condition ; and had not the same cause that made it so also pre- vented the enemy from moving, it could have been destroyed or captured like a fly in a spider's web.
The pontoon wagons, and the artillery that was to support the building of the bridges and passage of the troops, had nearly reached the river and were in plain sight of the rebel pickets, who jeered and joked with the advance of the unfortunate and dispirited army.
They would shout and laugh, and derisively ask : "Where did you start for this time, Yanks?" " Don't you want us to come over and help you pull your pontoons and guns out of the mud?"
The army having stopped, the rain stopped at last itself; and on the afternoon of the 23d the welcome sun made its appearance and lighted up a scene more easily imagined than described.
The ground, with its clay subsoil, was little better than a mire bed for man or beast. But while the former could manage most of the time to keep head and body above the surface, the latter, many of them attached to artillery or pontoon wagons, were literally buried up in the mud.
Here and there a pair of mule's ears might be seen sticking up, which
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History of the Twelfth Regiment
served to indicate their condition as well as locate their position. Eight or ten pairs of these animals might be seen hitched to one army wagon. the result of which would be to draw some of the hind mules in more than the wagon was drawn out. While the artillery horses, with double- hitch to each piece, would struggle and flounder along until they could hardly be extricated, after being detached from their loads. Many of the heavier guns had to be abandoned and left as they were, resting in the mud, with wheels buried beneath them, until they were dug out with picks and spades after the ground had dried sufficiently to haul them back to camp.
After one or two days' work building corduroy roads, in which the Twelfth bore a part, and a much needed reinforcement of a barrel of " Commissary," the army, all that had the strength to do so, returned to its old quarters.
And here, after four or five days spent in marching and countermarch- ing as many miles, was the end of what will be known in history as Burnside's " mud march."
Although as humiliating as it was aggravating, bringing upon him the ridicule of both armies, it was probably well for the Union commander, and the cause for which he so long and ardently labored, and to which no heart was truer, though he sometimes doubtless erred, that the elements seemed to conspire against him. For another attack upon the enemy. with many of his generals opposed to him and his plans, and a growing want of confidence among the soldiers, must have resulted in another defeat, more disastrous perhaps than that of Fredericksburg.
On the 25th of January, by order of the President, General Burnside was relieved of his command of the Army of the Potomac, and Gen. Joseph Hooker appointed in his place ; and the day following the latter assumed command, and issued an order announcing the welcome news to the disheartened thousands of the army, who listened and heard with joyful approval.
At this time the morale of the army was at ebb tide, and lower than ever before or afterward.
Everything was bad and rapidly growing worse, from Headquarters to the private on his " beat." The slaughter at Fredericksburg, followed by the " mud march." had so demoralized the soldiers that they had lost all confidence in their leader, if not in themselves ; and an army without a respected head is but little better than a mob.
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