USA > New York > Camp fires of the Twenty-Third: sketches of the camp life, marches, and battles of the Twenty-Third Regiment, N. Y. V. Added to these are statistics of enlistments and all valuable information connected with the regiment > Part 4
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THE TWENTY-THIRD.
and the Southern Confederacy." Scouting parties were sent out from time to time, and seldom without finding and having an encounter with the enemy.
A skirmish occurred on Sunday the 18th, on the Bowling Green road. The enemy had showed them- selves at this point and along the woods bordering the railroad. They were evidently advancing with the intention of attacking Fredericksburg, or of ascer- taining the strength of the Federal force. The brigade had crossed the river previous to this, and were bivouacked on the fiats along Hazel Run. Videts now came in at a break-neck speed, firing their . carbines and otherwise giving the alarm. A squadron of cav- alry had appeared drawn up in line in a wheat-field about a mile out, and seemed to challenge fight.
The long roll was immediately sounded. A squad- ron of the Harris Light Cavalry soon came dashing into the road from Hazel Dell, and as they advanced they deployed rapidly from right to left. Colonel Hoffman in the mean time had got together five com- panies of the Twenty-third and followed rapidly np. Colonel Lord, of the Thirty-fifth, brought his regiment up on "double quick," while the Twentieth and Twenty-first were ordered down the railroad. The rebel cavalry seeing this array of force, wheeled and galloped away in a cloud of dust. General Patrick ordered the Twenty-tard forward as skirmishers, and advanced two miles, but discovered no enemy in force. A shot fired at General Patrick by a rebel sharp- shooter missed bim, but killed the horse of an orderly by his side.
The pickets were now advanced to the ravine near the house of Mr. Bernard. The companies of the Twenty-third were ordered to join the regiment at
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Hazel Dell. Another week rolled round. The rail- road had been completed, and the rattle of the cars and the familiar screech of the locomotive, to which we had been strangers so long, heard once more.
Dense columns of smoke were seen to rise in the direction of the rebel encampments on the evening of the 24th, and during the night great sheets of flame lighted up the sky. It was correctly inferred from this that the enemy were evacuating their posi- tion. On the following morning the arsenal in town was blown up by some means unknown-probably known to the people. William March, Company A, who was standing guard at the time over the arsenal, was blown to pieces by the explosion. Parts of his body were never found. A leg was found on the roof of another building. His remains were collected and buried.
A general advance was now made. Gibbons' brigade took the Bowling Green road. General Patrick, with three regiments-Twentieth, Twenty- first, and Thirty-fifth-took the Telegraph road, while he ordered Colonel Hoffman up the river two miles to guard the flank. General Hatch followed on the Telegraph road. Two days elapsed and we joined the brigade on the Telegraph road, seven miles out. Here had been quite an extensive camp of the enemy, under General Walker. The conjectures were all verified, and the reports of the rebel prisoners proved true. The camps had been desolated by fire, and judging from their extent, the force amounted to eight or ten thousand.
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49
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
CHAPTER VII.
AFTER JACKSON.
THE wild rumors received and circulated concerning the danger of General Banks' position at last became "news," and Jackson's " diversion" up the Shenan- doah a certainty. General Shields had arrived at Fredericksburg on the day of the advance, but re- turned immediately to the valley. General Banks needed help, and instead of sending the troops lying idle at Washington, General McDowell was called upon, and a forced march to Front Royal necessary- necessary also to abandon the plan of co-operation with the army of the Potomac. These troops would inevitably arrive too late, while the forces from Wash- ington could be sent through by rail to Front Royal in twelve hours.
We arrived in the vicinity of Haymarket on the 'Ist of June, having waited one day at Catlett's Sta- tion for the cars which had taken half of the brigade forward. We camped in a grove about one mile north of the town, on the banks of the Bull Run. The expe- dition to Front Royal had failed to find the enemy, and returned to Haymarket. We encountered a rain-storm here that lasted four days and made a flood of the Stream. The camp was a sorry sight, gloomy beyond description. A person who has never experienced such days in like circumstances can have no adequate
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idea of the utter forlornness and goneness that is brought on by such a storm.
Colonel Hoffman was taken sick at this time with fever, but unwilling to give up, he followed the regi- ment on the march to Warrenton, for which place we set out on the morning of the 6th of June. The creeks were badly overflowed and we were compelled to ford them, the bridges being washed away. Broad Run . was the most obstinate, taking us in nearly to the middle. Warrenton was at this time infested by a band of guerrillas, called by the citizens "Mountain Boys," but none of them made their appearance.
The brigade started again for Fredericksburg on the 8th, reaching Elk Run on the 9th. We remained here five days. The following incident which hap- pened here will serve to bring to mind others of a similar character : One of the brigade had been caught by General Patrick's "patrol guard" in the act of milking a cow, by stripping the milk into his mouth and drinking it warm. He was brought before the General, when the following colloquy occurred :
General. Did you strip the milk of the cow into your mouth and drink it warm ?
Soldier. Yes, sir !
General. You great calf! GO TO YOUR REGIMENT!
We now went forward to the old mill on the head waters of Aquia Creek. This camp will probably be remembered by the regiment for many incidents that occurred here. It was the season for cherries. That word " cherries" will bring to mind heaps of adven- tures. The country abounds with this fruit, large and luscious, red and black. Those cool refreshing baths in the mill-pond and under the water-wheel of the old mill were delightful.
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THE TWENTY-THIRD.
The mail came to us here. We had had no mail in three long weeks, and now there was a flood of it. It would be safe to say that the regiment never received so much joy at one outpouring as at this time. This pleasure is partly expressed in the following lines :
" How very dear the shout that rings In exultation loud and clear,
To bail the messenger who brings Letters from home and kindred dear ;
And 'neath the pale moon's smiling light The soldier reads his treasure o'er,
And through the hours of silent night, In dreams he visits home once more."
A soldier writing at the time says :
"Nothing that transpires in camp gives so much real pleasure, or brings more bitter disappointment, as the mail. Pleasure, when friends at home have re- membered us ; harrowing disappointment, either when the mail fails to bring the letters written, or friends
fail to write the letters expected. There was a great bustle and excitement in camp when it was ascertained that there was a wagon-load of mail for the Twenty- third, and while it was being distributed the scene was quite amusing. All were eager and cheerful, and as letter after letter was counted off, a stream of jokes followed the happy recipients to their tents. The seals were hastily broken, and an observer could plainly guess the various contents of the missives by watching the changing expression on the countenance ui' the soldier.
" Here a youth, who has just stepped upon the stage of manhood, has a letter from a fond father in the de- line of life, who, after giving all those bits of intelli- vence which please while they edify, adds a few pages of advice so full of fatherly fondness and gems of
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experience, that a new and strange joy lights up the features of the young man. He never knew that his father loved him so much.
"There sits a husband and father with distressed features, absorbed in a letter that tells of sickness and suffering at home. Those loved ones have no natural protector but him, and he is far away. I saw one poor fellow take with trembling hand a letter with a black seal, and the expression of woe as he broke it open and read was distressing to look upon.
"Yonder a pale, thoughtful youth has opened a dainty little letter, and slyly casting glances around to see if he is observed, proceeds to read. And-but it is profane to lay bare the contents of a love-letter.
"Each soldier is thus intent upon his letter and be- trays its contents upon his face as he reads. The dear- est letter of all is in the hands of that fair boy over there, stretched upon turf. It is from his mother, and every sentence is freighted with that mother's loving solicitude.
" The soldier brave is often prone To deem himself forgotten quite, A wanderer on the earth alone, When friends at home neglect to write.
Then cheer him oft with words that please, And thus your deep affection prove ; Let every keel that plows the seas Bear him some message full of love."
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THE TWENTY-THIRD.
CHAPTER VIII.
"CAMP RUFUS KING."
THE table-lands at this point reaching east from the Rappahannock are, in the main, level. The monotony, however, is relieved by slight elevations and depres- sions, and here and there groves of pine and oak. With a fertile soil this region would be delightful ; but it lacks the needful fertility. It is sandy and barren. The natives who are doomed to live here can hardly subsist upon the exhausted soil. This region is espe- cially adapted to the growth of pine and cedar, and some of the most beautiful groves that ever greeted the eye are found here.
About three miles out on the main road toward Bell's Plains, on the left of the road, and on the farm of Mr. King, is one of the most beautiful of these groves. It is the second growth, and upon land culti- vated by the wealthy planter in the earlier days of the Old Dominion. The pines vary in size from the mere pole of a few inches in diameter to the stately tree of two feet in diameter, and their graceful, tapering trunks lose themselves in the mass of ever-green foliage of the tangled tops. It is a delicious retreat on a sultry summer's day.
It was beside this wood that General Patrick's brig- tale encamped on the morning of the 27th of June. The severest drill and the hottest days of summer were the main features of this camp. The mornings
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were cool, and a coat was necessary for comfort ; but as the day advanced and the heated sun sent down his red-hot rays, the heat became almost intolerable. The sun would burn deep into the bare flesh. At evening, when the sun glanced sidewise at us, the air would be- come balmy and half the night delicious.
General Patrick seemed determined while here to make his brigade proficient in drill. He utterly dis- regarded fatigue. The routine of camp was made very rigid. Two brigade drills per day, brigade guard- mounting, company drill, musical drill (or "bear dance"), and dress parade, was the order, departed from only on Sunday and during a thunder-storm.
The Fourth of July was a gala-day for the third brigade. All drill was laid aside. A fine speaker's stand was erected in the broad tield and trimmed with evergreen ; and here the brigade assembled to listen to the reading of the " Declaration of Independence," and the speeches of the orators of the occasion. Chap- lain Roby of the Twenty-first was the reader of the day. Stirring and patriotic speeches were made by General Patrick, Colonel Winslow, Colonel O'Connor of the Second Wisconsin, Colonel Pratt, Colonel Hoff- man, Lieutenant-Colonel N. M. Crane, and others.
At dress parade two beautiful swords were present- ed-one to Colonel Hoffman by the non-commissioned officers of the regiment, costing eighty-tive dollars, with this inscription :
PRESENTED TO COL. H . C. HOFFMAN, 230 N. Y. V .. By the non-commissioned Officers of his command. Fredericksburg. July 4th.
-the other to Lieutenant-Colonel Crane by the privates,
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THE TWENTY-THIRD.
costing, with trappings, one hundred and five dollars, nad bearing the following inscription :
LIEUT. - COL. N. M. CRANE, A TOKEN OF ESTEEM, BY The Privates of the 23d Regt. N. Y. VOL. " Confide měhř."
Orderly-Sergeant Judd D. Burt, of Company K., on behalf of the non-commissioned officers, presented the sword to Colonel Hoffman, and in a very neat and ap- propriate speech expressed the esteem and good-will of the donors. The Colonel replied in the following words :
"Gentlemen of the Committee, and non-cominis- sioned Officers of the Twenty-third-I accept the sword ; I also accept as a matter of necessity, but not of choice, the additional obligations and responsibili- ties which accompany it.
" Gentlemen, in receiving this token from you who are so much my inferior in rank, I am at a loss to know whether I am more flattered or more embar- rassed-flattered, because I am vain enough to think it given as a testimonial of my good intentions in the direction of duty, and not because of any partiality or favors shown to you as a class or to any individual one of you.
"I am embarrassed from the fact that I can not as yet feel that my poor services have earned so rich a tribute.
" Tis a beautiful sword-I might almost say with Shakspeare, ' A better never did sustain itself upon A soldier's thigh.' I prize it highly, gentlemen, and earnestly thank you for it, and I promise you I shall
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keep it (if I can) through life. I prize it on account of its real and intrinsic worth, I prize it by reason of its extreme beauty ; but its principal and great value to me will be the recollection that it is the donation of your generous hands and patriot hearts.
"We as a regiment have now served more than one of the two years for which we voluntarily left our homes of comfort and luxury, to accept the hardships, privations, and perils of the field in the defense of our first love-our country ; and notwithstanding the fact, that since the second week after our arrival at the na- tional capital until now some two weeks past, we have been kept on the extreme front and held constantly, whether in camp, in bivouac, or on the march when danger was the most expected, more perhaps than any other regiment in this army or in the old army of the Potomac while we constituted a part of it, yet it has not been our fate to ever have met the enemy in any- thing except some sharp skirmishing, and nothing that should be dignified by the name of battle.
" While the evidence is abundant that we have en- joyed, to a fuller extent than most organizations, the confidence of our commanding generals, and while we have satisfactorily and with fidelity discharged those various and peculiarly perilous trusts given into our hands without meeting our foe in any of those disas- trous conflicts which have fallen to the lot of some of our more unfortunate comrades, it is not reasonable to pre- sume that such good fortune will always cling to us, but rather that the conflict will be the more terrible by reason of its long delay. I feel that we must and will yet come face to face with the foe ; and when we do, and not till then, will come the proof whether or not your gift is worthily bestowed.
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THE TWENTY-THIRD.
"When that time comes, as come it must, I pray that Heaven will so nerve my heart and strengthen the arın which you have intrusted to wield this beautiful weapon, that I may meet the shock in such a manner that you may not be ashamed of the gift."
Mr. Rufus Scott, of Company B, then addressed to Colonel Crane a few remarks, full of pith and matter, and presented the sword. Colonel Crane expressed his thanks in a few brief words. "He should prize this gift on account of the source from whence it comes, and if Heaven spared him to go home, he should look upon it in after years and be reminded of the past. He hoped that the confidence thus expressed in him might be strengthened, but never shaken." (It has been strengthened.)
It is but just to remark here, that subsequent events, both on the march and on the field of battle, proved that the unbounded confidence of the regiment in their commanders was not misplaced.
A few days afterward, a fine sword, costing sixty dollars, was presented to Major William M. Gregg by the line officers. It was presented by Chaplain Du- bois. The Major proved himself worthy of the gift by his conduct at the battle of Bull Run.
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CHAPTER IX.
RECONNOISSANCE.
A HISTORY like this would be incomplete without an account of the three days' reconnoissance toward Gor- donsville.
We were in light marching order. It was the 24th of July, and a warm day. 'Twas about one o'clock P.M. and for the first few hours the march was severe. We passed through Fredericksburg and took the " wilder- ness road." It was formerly a plank road, but is so badly worn that it can hardly claim that title now. The force consisted of three regiments of infantry, the Second Wisconsin, Thirtieth New York, and the Twen- ty-third New York, one squadron of cavalry, the Third Indiana, and one battery, Gibbon's. General Patrick accompanied the regiment several miles, then bade the men good-bye, with the charge to bring back a good account of themselves. The expedition was under command of General Gibbon.
Though we made fifteen miles before nine o'clock, the evening march was not severe, but we had hardly got into bivouac when a heavy thunder-storm, which had been coming up from the west all the evening, burst upon us, and being entirely without shelter we were thoroughly drenched. General Gibbon on this occasion showed himself a true campaigner by refusing to seek shelter in the houses in the vicinity, and lying down by the roadside among his men, and sharing with them
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THE TWENTY-THIRD.
the fury of the storm. A church close by was appro- priated by the soldiers during the night.
We were aroused very early and moved forward about sunrise. The warm sun soon dried our clothes, and in the cool of the day the march was easy, but the sun soon began to send down his perpendicular rays, and as our pace was increased rather than impeded, the men became very much fatigued. But this fatigue I'd not prevent some from seeing and hearing whatever finterest was to be seen and heard. An amusing in-
dent occurred in the morning. A battery man had appropriated a horse belonging to a widow lady, Thereupon she began a wonderful demonstration of trier and indignation that created quite a sensation of wirth and sympathy among the soldiers. Major Gregg interceded in behalf of the unfortunate widow, and atter searching a short time, discovered and returned :Le stolen horse. He was loaded with expressions of atitude. Another occurred about noon at the house " a rebel postmaster, opposite whose house our regi- ment had halted for rest and refreshments. The woman of the house happened to miss a small child (children are the staple product of these poor white Virginia " squalid"), and immediately commenced a dreadful "lo, bewailing her loss and charging the " Yankees" : Th stealing her child. Captain Barstow was the un- f ctunate victim of her fury, but happily the child soon returned and she was pacified. This must have been w'; especial favorite, for the affections of the dam di- vided among such a heap of them must bring but a wvey small share to cach. Many amusing incidents wirved to make this march very lively and interesting.
A rebel mail was captured at this post-office, which, by the way, was called Verdersville. It appeared from
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this mail that the rebels were ignorant of our move- ments, and to keep our movements secret General Gibbon made prisoners of the male citizens along the route. This road lies through an apparent wilderness. Very few comfortable residences appear along the route. It is a journey between the houses or hovels that border the road. Now and then a family of Vir- ginia's " squalid" are found in some tumble-down log hovel, miserably fighting off starvation. If a respecta- ble residence border the plank, it is honored with the title of " ville" or " burg," and has a name, while the chief tycoon of the ranch is dubbed captain, major, or colonel.
The postmaster and storekeeper of the next place had fled, and a party of soldiers entered it and scattered the papers. Of merchandise the store was said to contain but half a keg of mackerel. The men were very tired when we halted late in the afternoon within three miles of Orange Court House, to make coffee and eat supper. Some were too weary to eat, but when Lieutenant- Colonel Crane came down the line and informed each company and squad of men that it was determined to ad- vance immediately and capture the town, they all forgot their weariness, and springing to their feet made ready for the fight. We were disappointed, however, for it was decided after consultation to defer the attack until morn- ing, and to go into bivouac here. Scouts had reported a large force at Orange Court House.
As soon as it was determined to remain, a party was sent out under command of Lieutenant Hiram Smith to forage for meat in obedience to order No. 5, just is- sued. A large herd of sheep was soon discovered and surrounded, and forty fine fat muttons were soon stretched upon the grass. Scouting parties of cavalry
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THE TWENTY-THIRD.
were sent out, and infantry pickets (two companies of the Twenty-third and two of the Second Wisconsin) twisted, and we laid down beside our arms, scarcely Inping to get a quiet night's rest. The enemy had been Informed of our presence and were up in the morning as early as we, as subsequent events proved. The troops were brought into position at sunrise, and a section of the battery accompanied by infantry and cavalry sent forward to reconnoiter. They advanced within full view of the town, stirred up the rebels, and in a brisk little skirmish routed a party of them, taking one prisoner.
The enemy were found to be in such force that it would not be wise to fight them, and the objects of the expedition being now accomplished, we were ordered to fall back. Accordingly the return march was com- fenced at about ten o'clock A.M. The enemy dogged our march, continually harassing us. An ambuscade was once laid for them, but failed of its purpose by the premature discharge of a gun. About two P.M. a heavy thunder-shower, accompanied by a gale, burst upon us, and the rain continued till night. The march was kept up till the men became too weary to go farther, and as we met Quartermaster Mandeville with rations, Te went into bivouac. He also brought the mail, which by the way is almost as valuable as rations. Quarter- master Mandeville is a trump. On this day's march many of the men became too weary to even carry their muskets and accouterments, and some were too wick to walk. The kindness of the three officers who followed the regiment, Colonel Crane, Major Gregg, and Dr. Madill, deserves special mention. They were continually aiding these men by cheering words, car- rying their guus, and even dismounting, compelling the weary fellows to ride. Such kindness is not scon
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خصيف
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forgotten by the soldier, and for this reason we depart from the settled rule of this work in mentioning it-we sound the praise of no man. The pickets reported the enemy prowled about us all night, but dare not attack.
We went forward the next morning about six miles, to a small stream, where we breakfasted. Here we met the troops who had been sent to our relief. The remainder of the march was not impeded by the hot sun, and about two o'clock p.r. we arrived in camp more weary and worn than any previous march had made us. We had thus made a march of eighty miles in three days, through a wilderness, and over a rough and rugged road, encountering more than ordinary difficul- ties in terrible storms, heat of the sun, and encroach- ments of the enemy. It may safely be set down as the most extraordinary reconnoissance during the campaign. After remaining in camp one day for rest, we broke camp and joined the other regiments of the brigade which had removed to the bank of the river. The regi- ment encamped on a portion of the old Washington plantation, and the camp was consequently named "Camp Washington." Company F was detailed to guard the railroad bridge, and Company K the railroad dépôt in town. General Patrick had been appointed military governor of Fredericksburg. The other com- panies of the regiment patrolled the town.
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THE TWENTY-THIRD.
CHAPTER X.
RAPPAHANNOCK STATION.
"The land of freedom. sea and shore, Is guarded now as when Her ebbing wares to vict'ry bore Fair barks and gallant men."
. ON the afternoon of the 18th the wagon-train began to move to the rear, and the regiment received orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice, and we looked forward to a fight at the Rapidan. But it was a bitter disappointment; for on the morning of the 19th we set out for Culpepper, after being in line all night lying beside our stacked muskets. The enemy was reported to be 120,000 strong, and bent on driving us to the wall.
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