USA > New Jersey > History of the men of Co. F, with description of the marches and battles of the 12th New Jersey Vols. Dedicated to "our dead." > Part 2
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We cross the river from Federal to Washington street, where we stack arms, unsling knapsacks, and enjoy one of those famous dinners at the Cooper Shop, where fair ladies and pretty girls wait on us with long to be remembered kind- ness. Then sling knapsacks, take arms, and that sultry march to Broad and Prime, through a continuous throng of shouting men, waving flags, pretty girls with fluttering handkerchiefs, many of which, snatched from fair and. willing hands, were long kept as talismanic charms, worn over our hearts !
At 3.30 p. m. we again take the cars, adjust our cumbrous baggage, and southward take our flight, cheered on by patriot hands, flags and handkerchiefs, waving from every town, vil- lage and farm house. Soon after leaving Philadelphia our officers pass through the cars, giving each man a mysterious- looking flat paper package about three inches square (inside of
2
18
The Men of Company F,
which we find ten cartridges), with orders to load ! What does this mean ? Are we running into danger? Do they ex- pect us to shoot somebody ? Then we remember reading of the fate of that Massachusetts regiment a few months previ- ously, shot down like dogs in the streets of Baltimore ! Balti- more? Why, that's where we are going now ! And the spite- ful manner in which we rammed those cartridges, spoke that they had better not fool with us.
We reach Baltimore at midnight, marched quickly through those silent streets to the Washington depot, where we stack arms, release our bodies from those chafing straps, take a good · wash, and partake of welcome supper, which we find ready and awaiting us, (guess Baltimore ain't so bad, after all), then spend the night in the open street, right on the cobble stones, with knapsacks for pillows, and slept the sweet sleep of the weary.
Monday morning, September 8th, we rise early, with many a dent and scar on hip and other parts in contact with the cob- bles ; get another good meal at S o'clock, then wander around town until noon, when we take the Baltimore and Ohio train for Ellicott's Mills, twelve miles away, where we unload at 3.20, march up a high hill, or young mountain, steep as a house roof, form camp, and pitch tents on the level, grassy summit ; and here we spend two happy months, amid sur- roundings beautiful and romantic. The little town, nestling in the valley below us, the beautiful Patapsco river, like a shining thread of silver, winding here and yon.
By rugged hills and busy mills, over dams and rocks a splashing ;
From wooded plains, the rumbling trains, come 'round the mountains dashing ;
We spend our days in pleasant ways, guard river, road and thicket ; Have drill, review, and dining, too, or stand our turn on picket. The hills are high, the meallows green, the landscape seldom rougher ; John Dorsey's chickens, pigs and sheep : O, how they have to suffer ! From Antietam's field, not far away, we hear the cannons rattle; We catch the skulkers, prisoners, the aftermath of battle.
With youthful might. our duties light, our lives a joyous dream, Our days we all with march and drill, in earthly heaven we seem.
September roth, we march down to the quartermaster's and
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
draw our fancy dress-coats-those stiff, uncomfortable, close- fitting abominations, with their brass buttons, high shoulders and stiff standing collar, that inflamed and endangered both throat and ears. September 15th, a detail from the company escorted twenty-one prisoners (captured by our pickets) down to Baltimore, returning same evening. September 16th, three companies went to Frederick City, to escort rebel prisoners (from the South Mountain battle) to Baltimore.
During the month a company of cavalry camped alongside of us, scouting and doing outside picket duties. One morning, quite early, news came in from our outposts, that the rebels were advancing down the Frederick turnpike ! help needed quick ! Three companies-F being one, and I think I and B -quickly formed in light marching order, went down the hill on a run, swept through the frightened village, up the turn- pike for two miles, passed through the alarmed picket line, and found a squad of about forty skulkers and stragglers from Antietam's battle. When, with the help of that slow cavalry (who just came up), we surrounded, disarmed, and triumph- antly marched them back to our camp ; railing our cavalry brothers about being so slow, and letting the infantry outrun them.
November 2nd, Company B, while on picket, captured four men with a four-horse team laden with guns and ammunition, which they proudly escorted to our camp. November 6th, the weather growing colder, we bought boards, put down floors and stockaded our tents, making them much more roomy and comfortable for us to spend the winter, as we seemed anchored here : but prospects changed later on.
During our two months' stay in this camp, six men died in the regiment, as follows : John W. Dubois, Company I, Sep- tember 22d : Thomas J. McKeighan, Company H, October 16th ; James Carter, Company B, November 6th ; David Boody, Company F, November 13th ; Joseph Mead, Company C, De- cember Ist : George W. Allen, Company F, December 9th. We had military funerals, and escorted the bodies to the train for shipment home, over all but George W. Allen, who was buried just as we were leaving for the front.
ELLICOTT'S MILLS TO FALMOUTH.
BY SERGEANT DAVID BORTON.
The following notes from his war diary, are kindly fur- nished by Comrade David Borton, of Company F :
December 10, 1862, in obedience to orders from the War Department, the time has come for the regiment to leave the pleasant hills and associations of Ellicott's Mills, but not to forget the beautiful (girls) and healthful location, with that memorable spring gushing forth from the rocks, supplying the whole regiment with its clear, pure waters. We struck tents at sunrise, and after the usual delays, started at 2.45 p. m. for Washington by way of Baltimore and Ohio railroad, reaching there at 3 a. m .; quartered at "Soldiers' Rest," where we got breakfast. In the afternoon we formed line, marched to the arsenal to get our Austrian rifles exchanged for something less dangerous to the man behind and more to the enemy in front, but were too late in the day ; so returned through mud of the worst description. Our five-mile march was credited to exer- cise ! 12th, inspection of arms, with another march to the arsenal, where we changed our guns for the celebrated Spring- field muskets, the cartridge for which contained a round ball and three buckshot, making them second to grape and cannis- ter in destruction. 13th, formed in line at 11 o'clock, left our pleasant quarters at "Soldiers' Rest," marched through Wash- ington and at noon crossed into Maryland ; halted at 12.30, rested thirteen minutes, then moved on with our heavy loads till 1.30, when we again halted while the Sixth New York Battery, with their brass pieces, fine horses and showy uni- forms passed by. At 1.50 we resumed our march, after a wise reduction of freight, but in just one hour we were ready for a thirty minutes' rest, and a further discharge of useless bag- gage, when we again moved towards the enemy, which our forces were engaging at Fredericksburg ; and at 5 o'clock
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers. - 21.
halted for the night, having marched thirteen miles in five hours, through and over mud and roads of a character never seen in Jersey ! Richard Borton, James S. Stratton and Wil- liam Moncrief were left at Washington on the sick list. Many of the boys fell out during this first march, and all were taught the useful lesson of not to carry useless freight, as we soon found we could get along with very little outside of hardtack, pork, coffee and sugar, with our canteens filled from streams and pools by the wayside. 14th, most of our stragglers re- joined during the night, and seemed bright and refreshed at 7.30, when we resumed the march and traveled all day through mud, mud, nothing but mud, passing through the village of Pisquataway about noon, and halted for the night at 3.30 p. m. Weather, clear and warm ; hear cannonading all day ; rested during the day only eighty minutes, all told. 15th, resumed our march at 9.20 a. m., halting for the night in a meadow at 4.20 p. m. Weather warm, sky clear ; booming of cannons still heard in front ; rested during the day two and a half hours. During the evening some of the boys strayed off and returned loaded with chickens, ducks and geese ; George H. Duell carrying a nice pig, which he had found ; and it might be well to ask Griscom and Haines where that turkey and goose were purchased, and the price paid ! The cooking of these extra rations occupied most of the night. 16th, aroused by the rain falling in our faces ; (been sleeping out with no tents since leaving Ellicott's Mills) ; marched at 9.15 and reached the Potomac at 4.20 and Liverpool Point at 5.30 p. m., after a hard march through mud and clay, that clung to our shoes like soft putty. We rested but little during the day, and to make life more miserable, if possible, the baggage wagon with our knapsacks got stuck in the mud, and we had to do without our blankets. The weather turned very cold, freezing the ground, and the sharp, cutting wind made us pass the night sitting or standing as close as possible to the fire. 17th, blustery and snowing : baggage came up this morning, and just as we got the Sibleys staked down, came orders to move, and at 1.55 we went on board one of those familiar old Red Bank ferry-boats (Star or Eagle), and at 3.30 p. m. disem-
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The Men of Company F,
barked at Acquia Creek, Virginia, where we spent a rough night, minus fire or tents. 18th, we were awakened by the rat- tle of our chattering teeth, to find our bodies numb with cold, and our bed-clothes frozen fast to the ground. This was our initiation into the State of our adoption, our destined home during service with our present kind guardians, not appreci- ated by all, and many thoughts went back to comforts of home in old Jersey. 19th, 9.15 a. m., off for our first march in Old Dominion ; a long and hard one, close beside the railroad, past Brook's Station, and soon Fredericksburg comes in sight. We meet and greet many of our New Jersey regiments, their faces and clothing black with the smoke and powder of battle ; camped near our Twenty-fourth and Twenty-eighth Regi- ments, one mile above the town, greeting many old friends and schoolmates. 20th, clear and cold ; a detail sent back to the railroad to forward tents, etc .; the rest view the surround- ings, and get a look at the enemy we are to contend with and settle whether the United States shall be one and inseparable, or a divided nation. 21st, finished work at station, took a view of Fredericksburg and then went back to camp, antici- pating a first night in the tents since leaving Ellicott's Mills, but cruel fate sent us on picket, relieving the Twenty-eighth New Jersey Regiment. 22nd, but little sleep last night, and no rations ; got a supply from camp at noon ; relieved at night by the Fourth Ohio Regiment. 23rd, review and inspection : J. S. Stratton and R. Borton reached camp. 24th, stormy ; brigade inspection by General Sumner in the morning : dress parade in the afternoon. 26th, all sick ordered to Washing- ton. 27th, signed pay roll. 28th, spring-like ; no mails since arrival ; James S. Stratton, Adam Marshall, with other sick from regiment, sent to Washington. 29th, pleasant ; company drill and target practice for first time here. 30th, a sensation at I a. m., by being called in line and given sixty rounds of cartridges, and cooks ordered to speedily prepare three days' rations, expecting to move all day, but evening finds us still here : also, the welcome mail with welcome messages for nearly all. 31st. cold, with light show : no movement yet, but all ready.
.
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
January Ist, received our shelter tents ; clear and cold. 2nd, had company drill ; expecting marching orders at any time, but are still here. 3rd, 4th and 5th, very pleasant weather ; camp rumors quieting down, marching orders very doubtful. 6th, rainy. 7th, colder ; Emanuel Stratton, James Plummer and Barclay Lippincott, of Swedesboro, visited our company and regiment ; we were glad to see them. 8th and 9th, con- tinued clear, cold weather. 10th, very rainy, indefinitely post- poning inspection by General Burnside ; some of the boys erected their shelter tents. 11th and 12th, all quiet ; pleasant overhead, but the sacred soil clings to our boots ; there has been a balloon ascension several times to-day, and things seem to indicate a move. 13th and 14th, warm and spring-like ; everything quiet as yet. 15th, warm in weather and company; Elwood Griscom, Warren H. Somers, Richard Borton and David Borton, were arrested and put in the guard-house by order of Captain E. L. Stratton, for playing euchre. 16th, the prisoners were taken out and released from arrest, and neither the captain or lieutenant will father the order ; both say, "he did it;" orders to march in the morning ! 17th, clear and cold ; we did move, but only to corps headquarters, where General Burnside gave us review ; eight brigades in line, and they made a grand display. 18th and 19th, all quiet along the Rappahannock. 20th, division drill in the morning, dress parade in the evening ; order read from General Burnside to prepare for light marching ; cold and rainy ; we hear many troops passing in the night. 21st, continued heavy rain all day, with no prospect of clearing ; we remain in camp, while other troops go splashing by in the rain and mud. 22nd, still raining, but less movement of troops ; the pontoons are stuck. and cannot reach destination ; the artillery is strewn along the roads in mud up to the guns, and we fear it will defeat the plans : no indications of our breaking camp. 23rd, the troops are returning to camp, on account of stornis making roads im- passable. 24th, clear and warm ; troops continue to march back ; all forward movements have been abandoned for the present. 25th, raining again ; Isaac Kuisell, Joseph J. Ash- brook and William Lakes were sent to the general hospital.
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The Men of Company F,
26th, 27th and 28th, cloudy, with rain, snow or storms. 29th, ' clear, with ten inches of snow on the ground ; rumor that General Burnside has resigned and General Sumner been re- moved : Emanuel Stratton, of Swedesboro, paid us another visit to-day. 30th, we hear that the Twenty-eighth New Jersey Regiment was paid to-day, and we are hoping for similar treatment. 31st, snow still remains, stopping all drills ; sut- ler just reached here to-day.
February Ist, clear and quiet. 2nd, warmer, snow nearly ' gone ; fell in for monthly inspection at 10 o'clock, remained in line till 3 p. m .; Captain E. L. Stratton, of Company F, and Captain Cliff, of Company B, left in the ambulance this morn- ing on sick leave. 3rd, snowing and blowing until noon, then cleared and turned cold, giving us much the coldest day of the winter. 4th and 5th, cold, with snow turning to rain. 6th, still raining, but camp and guard duty must be done, regard- less of weather ; Major Acton and Daniel Bradshaw arrived in camp this evening ; the latter took supper in our tent ; E. W. Howard and Joe Ashbrook have been returned to Windmill Point. 7th, clear and mild ; detail under Lieutenant Fogg went on picket in rear line near Stafford Court House. 8th . and 9th, pleasant; Haines and I attended to our washing ; · ironed the same day ; three lieutenants, ten sergeants, twenty . corporals and two hundred privates were sent to do picket duty in front of Fredericksburg. 10th, nice day ; had dress parade : troops are moving ; rumor says to Fortress Monroe. Irth, storm all day ; two hundred men went on picket again this morning .. 13th, fair ; had brigade drill ; buried our comrade, William Lakes, to-day. 15th and 16th, clear ; nothing import- ant. 17th, 18th and 19th, snow, then rain removing it quickly ; very unpleasant on guard and picket last night. 20th, J. S. Stratton and Adam Marshall returned ; R. Borton quite sick for a few days. 21st, cloudy ; Griscom and Haines, with pioneers, sent to corps headquarters to build bridge. 22nd, ten inches of snow this morning, and still at it: the camp guard has been taken off : Haines and Borton sent out to chop and carry wood for our tent : Richard Borton contin- ues ill. 23rd, three hundred of us sent on picket in front of
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
Fredericksburg ; snow boot-top deep; eight of us were de- tailed to row the boat over to the rebels, with officer and flag of truce. 24th, slept on a snowbank with John and Josh Grice ; our bed-clothes being two rubber and one woolen blanket be- low, two woolen and one rubber above ; boots for a pillow ; slept comfortably from 12 o'clock till morning. 25th, clear and pleasant ; no camp guard yet, too much snow ; Brother Richard no better ; reported that the rebels shot one of our pickets this morning ; E. W. Howard got his discharge. 26th, rain all day ; two of the Stratton brothers went home on fur- lough ; Joe Ashbrock received his discharge. 27th and 28th, warmer ; Colonel Johnson resigned ; mustered for two months' pay.
March Ist, rainy ; Colonel Johnson left camp this morning. ed, our first company drill since the snow started in ; camp in -. spected by General Hays; Lieutenant-Colonel Willetts returned to-day. 3d and 4th, clear and cold ; again on picket, in front line. 5th, detail relieved at 10 a. m .; then placed on guard of New York quarters, while the corps was reviewed by General Hooker, now commanding the army ; George I. Eldridge died this morning. 6th and 7th, battalion drill ; first in a long time. 8th, rainy ; E. T. Sweeten died ; nothing new from secesh. 9th, damp ; company drill in morning ; E. T. Sweet- en's body sent home. roth, snowing ; man died in Company A. rth. regimental inspection: orders read to have our equip- ments ready to fall in at a moment's notice. 12th, formed line of battle at 5.30 ; stood till sunrise, then to camp and prepared for inspection at 2 p. m .; but at 11.30 a. m. the " assembly " beat, and in light marching order we joined the brigade ; stacked arms, waited two hours, then back to camp ; orders to hold ourselves ready : in ten minutes again in line for knap- sack inspection ; waited two hours, no inspector ; broke ranks, but kept ready ; and what next hard to conjecture ; rumor that the rebels are crossing and moving on our right : fall in again, light : then get our knapsacks, join brigade and have the in- spection ; then back to quarters ; enough for one day ; hard work. 13th, Alfred J. Somiers died ; buried on the 14th. 15th and 16th, rain, hail and sleet ; very disagreeable. 17th, can-
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The Men of Company F,
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nonading on left ; rumor that the enemy are crossing : long roll heard in some camps ; we remain quiet. . 18th, rumor that our cavalry have defeated the rebels at Stafford Court House, taking many prisoners ; heavy firing continues; greatly pleased to see in our camp Thomas Borton, John Dunlap and Jacob Somers, the latter after the body of his son, Alfred. 19th and 20th, thirty men from each company sent on picket ; our Jer- sey friends start home with body of Alfred J. Somers. 21st, Willetts received his commission as Colonel, and Davis as Lieu- tenant-Colonel ; rumor that the rebels tried to burn the railroad bridge at Potomac Creek, and all taken prisoners 22d, 23d and 24th, company and skirmish drills ; ten of each company sent on picket ; no signs of paymaster ; four men of the regi- ment buried on the 24th-from Companies D, E, I and K. 25th and 26th, twelve of each company on picket; rainy. 27th, excitement high last night ; two alarms in the camp of the Pennsylvania Reserves ; we did not turn out ; only our camp guard was formed and held ready ; had inspection this morn- ing, with heavy marching orders. 28th, rainy : another in- spection ; no paymaster. 29th, clear ; regular Sunday morn- ing inspection ; the pontoon trains are massed on our parade grounds. 30th, orders to prepare for review ; fell in at 1.30 p. m .; marched to camp of the Twenty-fourth New Jersey, where the whole division was reviewed by General French ; then division drill for two hours and a half, and returned to camp ; more pontoons came up.
April Ist, formed in line at 2.30 a. m .; stood till sunrise, then back to camp ; sixteen of each company sent on picket. 2d and 3d, usual morning line of battle; fine weather ; 110 paymaster ; orders to put up shelter tents ; Sibleys to come down at 7.30 next morning. 4th, windy ; light snow ; the Sibleys are down ; fifteen of each company on picket ; E. L. Stratton returned. 5th and 6th, snow and rain ; Trimble re- turned ; dress parade, with all company officers present-first time in many months. 7th and Sth, our pickets relieved by the Seventh Virginia ; grand review of the whole army by President Lincoln : back to camp, late and tired ; 9th and roth, Captain Cliff returned to his company ; Company F boys all on
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Twelfth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers.
duty except three ; weather and roads good. 11th, eighteen men of the company out on picket; we await news from Charleston. 12th and 13th, fine weather ; all quiet, except tongues ; it looks like a move soon ; the pontoniers are repair- ing roads and boats. 14th, fifteen men from each company sent on picket ; the rebels are enjoying themselves by fishing in the river. 15th, rumors of moving are thick and plenty ; sent away our dress-coats ; drew eight days' rations ; moved the hospital ; rain pouring down. 16th, cleared off ; wall and A tents down ; looks like a move soon. 17th, still here, but how much longer we know not ; ready for what comes, any time ; pontoons gone. 18th, nice weather ; no move yet ; draw three days' more rations-they seem bound to feed us ; troops and trains moving to our right. 19th, fine day ; all quiet ; rumor that our cavalry have crossed. . 20th, rain ; a squad of rebel prisoners went by; detail for picket. 21st, pontoons moving to our right ; rumor that our cavalry are in the rebels' rear. 22d, a new Major comes, with his commis- sion, for our regiment-late Captain Hill, of the Eleventh New Jersey ; order for battalion drill, morning ; brigade drill, after- noon, until further notice. 23d and 24th, rain ; on picket ; a telegraph wire was found under water connecting Fredericks- burg and Falmouth. 25th, 26th and 27th, brigade and bat- talion drills daily ; our new Major on duty ; review by Colonel Parker ; company inspection ; sure to move to-night. 28th, did move, sure enough ; pickets came in at midnight, and we packed up, fell in, place rest, attention, etc., until 6 a. m., when we left our camp, marched three or four miles, and joined the rest of the corps; artillery and pontoons pass by ; a heavy detail, with entrenching tools, sent forward to corduroy roads ; we remained here all night, in a drizzling rain. 29th, light rain ; building roads till noon ; marched at 2.45 ; orders to keep quiet ; halted at dark in an old corn field ; pontoons and artillery move ahead of us ; some very heavy guns pass in the night ; the long-looked-for paymaster has come at last, but no chance to pay us now. 30th, started early ; about noon we reached the Rappahannock River, at the United States Ford, where we saw the pontoniers lay the bridge, which was soon
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The Men of Company F,
completed ; our cavalry forded the stream and were on the other bank ; no opposition ; band playing " Dixie ; " our regi- ment, first of the Second Corps to cross, Company F on the lead, reached the other shore at 6 p. m., halted, formed line, then marched till Io p. m., when we halted for the night, six miles from the river ; one hundred rebel prisoners passed to the rear ; the army has crossed at four different places, and we have them hemmed in ; they must either fight or surrender ; we expect to do our duty. Such was the opinion formed at that time, and what followed, proved that they chose to fight.
EXTRACTS FROM DIARY OF CAPT. E. L. STRATTON.
Ellicott's Mills, Maryland, September 19th, 1862 .- Com- pany F was ordered out at 5 p. m. to guard a vast army of paroled prisoners, who had been so ingloriously surrendered by the treachery of an officer at Maryland Heights, and who are now camped on the Frederick turnpike, just outside the village. September 20th, still on guard with the prisoners, over 10,000 of them ; weary, foot-sore, sick, disheartened, they say they were surrendered whilst holding a strong position, almost without firing a shot. They feel the disgrace keenly. At 3 p. m. they marched for Annapolis, Maryland, escorted for several miles by a detail from our regiment. Sunday, September 21st, Company F attended church. Catholic in the morning, Episco- pal in the evening. September 22d, our camp witnessed its first military funeral procession, John W. Dubois, from Woods- town, a fine young soldier of Company I, eighteen years of age, taken sick whilst on picket last Tuesday (16th), died last night ; Sergeant J. Morgan Barnes took the body home to Jer- sey.
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