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 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
An amusing incident occurred here It was twi- light when the column reached the church. A videt came rushing up and informed the General that the rebel cavalry were advancing upon him. He imme-
97
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
diately ordered "Column against cavalry," which was performed in a twinkling, as every one was taken by surprise, and the muskets were loaded much more rapidly than usual, but without confusion. The Twenty-first took the field to the left, while the Twenty-third filled the road with four main columns, four files deep, and with fixed bayonets awaited with calm determination the advancing foe. They came steadily forward, and when within hearing, General Patrick hailed them. The commander of the infantry (for it proved to be that) came forward and greeted the General, who thus replied : " Well, Colonel -- , is it you ? We were prepared to give you a warm re- ception." And indeed the bristling bayonets did look rather threatening. We returned to camp on the fol- lowing morning.
During this delay the rebel army had marched into Maryland, crossing at Point of Rocks, prepared for a grand raid into Pennsylvania. General McClellan now had command of the army. General Patrick re- ceived orders to march at eleven p.sr. on Saturday night. The condition of the men at this time was pitiful, but cheered by the reinstatement of their idolized com- mander, and the prospect of driving the invading army from Maryland, hundreds who could but just drag their bodies along mustered all their remaining strength for the march. Some who attempted it could not pro- ceed, and were left behind. At daylight on Sunday morning we passed through Washington and took the direction north.
Seven days were consumed in passing through Mary- land to the south bank of the Monocacy, opposite Frederick City. The march was rapid but steady, and the troops allowed time to sleep. The route lay from
7
1
1
98
CAMP FIRES OF
Washington direct through Mechanicsville to New Lisbon, on the Baltimore and Frederick City turn- pike, and thus up the pike to the latter place. Colonel Hoffman joined us on this march, though he did not take command until the 14th. He was still pale and haggard, and had come out against the advice of his physician.
Early on the morning of the 14th the entire army took up the advance toward South Mountain, and soon every avenue across Middletown valley swarmed with the Union troops, all eager for victory. The people of Frederick greeted us with the wildest enthusiasm. The town had evidently suffered much from the marauding rebel horde. We halted near Middletown for dinner, then pressed on to the foot of the mountain, which we reached about three o'clock P.M., then turned to the right of the pike, and formed in line of battle near the stone church. We have not time nor space for a lengthened description of this fight, but will subjoin the official report of Colonel Hoffman.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-THIED REGIMENT, NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, { NEAR SHARPSBURG, MD., September 20th, 1562. 1
BRIG .- GEN. M. R. PATRICK : In compliance with orders, I respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the engagement at " South Mountain," near Middletown, Washington County, Md., on Sunday the 14th day of September, 1862 :
We left Frederick with the brigade about eight o'clock A.M., and proceeded on the old government turnpike through the village of Mid- dletown to near the foot of South Mountain, where we rested one hour for refreshments, and again moved forward with the brigade to the right of the turnpike and along the foot of the mountain. under cover of a hill and out of range of the enemy's guns then in position on the top of the mountain, a distance of about half a mile. At this point we were ordered to support the Thirty-fifth Regiment New York Volunteers, whose entire line was thrown forward as skirmishers and ascending the bill. their left resting on the turnpike, and extending to the right a full half mile.
--------
1
1
99
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
We advanced in line of battle in close sustaining distance of the skirmishers about half way up the mountain side to a lane, where we unslung knapsacks which had become cumbersome, owing to the rough and rocky plowed fields over which we had passed and the fences we had climbed.
From this point we marched obliquely to the left until our left rested within about three hundred yards of the gorge in the moun- tain through which the old government turnpike passes, and advanced with the skirmishers in this position until nearly to the top of the mountain and into the woods where .we halted and remained in posi- tion about fifteen minutes, when I moved my right wing. by your order, one fourth of a mile to the right in support of the right wing of the line of skirmishers of the Thirty-fifth, leaving the left wing in com- mand of Lieutenant-Colonel N. M. Crane.
On arriving at the right I found Hatch's brigade, under command of Colonel Phelps, advancing in line of battie immediately behind me and in supporting distance of the line of skirmishers. whereupon I imme- diately, and without orders, moved my right wing back to join my left, knowing that flank to be but feebly supported.
We then advanced in line following the skirmishers in an oblique direction to the right along the slope of the mountain, over a very rocky bottom, our left all the time at from two hundred to four hun- dred yards from the turnpike and near the cleared field, until the main line had reached the top of the mountain, and was engaged on the right, when by your order we moved by the right flank up the side of the gorge to the support of the left of the line of Hatch's brigade, which by this time (dark) had become hotly engaged with the enemy's infantry.
We remained in this position fifteen minutes, by which time it had become quite dark, and were then ordered by you into a position in the line of fire, which had grown very weak and was likely to give way, when we advanced to the fence and opened fire through the cornfield upon the enemy.
After delivering our fire of about twelve rounds, the enemy's fire nearly ceased, and we were ordered to cease firing, which we did. and corrected our alignment about three yards back of the fence, when we were ordered by you to move off the field with you and a portion of the Thirty-fifth which had been assembled at that point. At this time it was very dark and everything in confusion, and upon starting from the field the enemy opened a brisk fire again. We were now ordered, by an aid of General Doubleday, to advance again to the fence.
We did so, and commenced firing, but after delivering a few rounds were again ordered to cease Gring, which we did, and undertook to
1
100
CAMP FIRES OF
forin a line again, when a brigade came up in the darkness hooting and yelling, running over everybody and throwing everything into even worse confusion than before. It finally terminated in a general mob, rendering it impossible for any line to be kept in order.
The enemy's fire bad however ceased. and after an hour and a half, when the battle had been won and all was quiet, I assorted my com- mand from the jam. rallied it on the colors, and we groped our way back to the place where we had left our knapsacks on the hillside, arriving at about eleven o'clock P.M. Here we found the Thirty-fifth Regiment going into camp for the night. All the men were found present at reveille the next morning, except those disabled in the action.
In this engagement the officers and men of my command behaved in a manner highly creditable to themselves. No straggling was dis- covered after starting for the battle-field. Next morning (September 15th) we rendezvoused with the brigade at the turnpike, and we pro- ceeded with it toward Boonsboro.
In this action we had but nine companies (Company C being on Inty at division headquarters), consisting of three field, one staff, and fifteen line officers, and one hundred and eighty-three enlisted men.
H. C. HOFFMAN, Colonel Commanding.
On the morning of the 15th it was ascertained that the enemy had fled precipitately, leaving his dead and wounded on the field to be cared for as fortune favored them. They were being hotly pursued by our cavalry, closely supported by infantry in light order. Early in the day we prepared to follow, and passing through the Gap and Boonsboro, bivouacked one mile east of Keedysville.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT, N. Y. V., NEAR ! SHARPSBURG, MD., Sept. 20, 1562.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL M. R. PATRICK :
I hereby respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the battle of Sharpsburg, or Antietam, fought Sep- tember 17th, 1862.
After the battle of South Mountain, near Middletown. Maryland, fought on Sunday evening. September 14th, 1862. we marched with the brigade, on the morning of the 15th of September, to a point near Keedysville and encamped for the night.
We proceeded next morning (Sept. 16) to a point near Sharpsburg,
---------
1
101
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
and occupied the day in changing position from one point on the field to another, until almost evening, when we were marched across the Antietam Creek. and took up our position amid a tremendous fire of artillery from the enemy on the extreme right of the entire army. By this time it was dark. and we lay on our arms all night.
At early dawn on the morning of the 17th the enemy opened a fire of artillery on us, under which we lay for about three quarters of an hour, when we were moved with the rest of the brigade to the left about half a mile and in range of the enemy's guns to the support, as I un- derstood, of General Gibbon's brigade, which was at that time hotly engaged with the enemy's forces both with artillery and small-arms and advanced up in the rear of Campbell's battery. and from thence moved to the right by a flank movement, and halted in the edge of the woods, the left of the column resting on the turnpike leading to Sharpsburg. Here I was ordered to move with my command to the right of the line to reconnoiter and watch the movement of a large body of the enemy who were reported to be gaining our right flank and rear, but had proceeded only a short distance when the order was counter- manded. and I was sent back to join the brigade, by order of General Doubleday, a regiment having been detached from another brigade to perform the duty assigned to my command.
We then marched back by the left flank at double quick, and joined our brigade just in time to advance with it to the ledge of rocks on the right and in front of Campbell's regular battery, and opened fire on the flank column of the enemy which was advancing through the cornfield and on the battery, driving them back in great haste and with much slaughter.
We, with the brigade, advanced after the fleeing rebels across the clover field to the turnpike and remained there a short time delivering a heavy fire into the enemy, when suddenly the discovery was made that our brigade was flanked on the right by the enemy in large force, and by your direction we fell back in perfect order to the ledge of rocks, where we halted and stopped the advancing foe.
By this time our ammunition had nearly given out, and upon re- inforcements coming up we fell back a short distance behind a rise of ground, stacked arms, and were preparing to make coffee. when a rebel battery, suddenly brought into position on our right, opened fire and was getting range on us. We then moved forward into the woods and lay under a heavy fire of artillery about half an hour. when three lines of our infantry. said to be Sedgwick's divisione entered the woods on our left. but were soon driven back in great Jisorcer. makine much confusion among all troops in that vicinity ; but I succeeded in keep- ing the ranks in order and moving up to the ledge. of rocks before men-
.. 1 .
.
102
· CAMP FIRES OF
tioned, where it was impossible to deliver a fire without endangering our own fleeing men.
At the same time the enemy poured a brisk fire into our right flank and rear, when we were ordered by you to return, which was done in such perfect order as to elicit the notice and highly complimentary and flattering remarks of Brigadier-General Howard, in addressing his own flying men whom he was nobly but rainly attempting to rally.
That brave officer pointed to us as an example for the disorganized, saying as he did so : ". Men ! that is the way to leave a field. That regi- ment are acting like soldiers ! Do as they do, men, and we will drive them back again in ten minutes."
We retired to the edge of the woods, immediately back of the point where Campbell's battery was situated. and formed with the rest of the brigade along the fence. and succeeded with the assistance of other troops, who were rallied in our rear and on our right, in pre- senting such a front as to intimidate the enemy from any farther ad- vance. After remaining in this position until order was again restored. we were relieved by other troops, and were moved off to the rear, re- plenished our ammunition, and lay in support of the regular line of batteries until night.
There was no infantry fight on our front after we left the field. We had but eight companies in this battle, Company C having been de- tached some days previous for duty at division headquarters, and being with the train, and Company B being on picket duty on the right and in front of our position in the morning and on the night before.
The officers and men of my command who went into the action be- haved most admirably, never deranging their alignment during the surgings backward and forward of the lines, obeying with promptitude every order, and all the time remaining firm, steady, and never moring until they had received the full order.
Their conduct was all that I could wish. We had one field, one staff, thirteen line officers, and 223 enlisted men. Our casualties were four killed and thirty-five wounded.
H. C. HOFFMAN, Colonel Commanding.
Much to the disappointment and chagrin of the troops, on the morning of the 19th it was discovered that the enemy had fienisted, leaving dead and wounded as before .. . Qur cavalry .was pursuing them. The army advanceds ; crossed the field of slaughter. It was a sickening, loathsome sight-a sight that paled the: che ffen;strong of heart and nerve
---
1
THE TWENTY-THIRD. 103
-a sight never to be forgotten. Rebel and Union lay mingled in heaps in this charnel-house, only the rebels had left more of their braves on the field. Is it bravery for a rebel to rush thus madly into death ? Yes ; but it is tinctured largely with desperation. The rebel wins all, loses all. The Union soldier wins glory.
The topography of this field is too well known to need comment. Every one will remember the natural fortifications which the rebels strengthened with rails. Also the large number of wounded found at houses and on the field. General Doubleday's division en- camped in a beautiful oak grove and remained about one week, when it moved about three fourths of a mile down the river and encamped. This was a very pleas- ant encampment, being finely situated and having an abundant supply of fresh water. The Potomac is narrow here, but owing to its rocky, uncertain bed, it is fordable only at long intervals.
While here, many of the sick and wounded from the campaign under Pope returned, and Captain Cole, of Company B, with a squad of recruits, swelled our number very perceptibly. President Lincoln, accom- panied by General McClellan, reviewed this part of the army on the evening of the 3d of October, after they had waited two days in line for him.
NEAP SHARPSBURG, MD., Oct. S, 1502.
MESSRS. EDITORS : * Preparations have been made in every department for putting the army on a war footing again, and everything now indicates a speedy move and a return to life on the field of action. This morning two days' rations were ordered to be kept in haversacks. and we expect to march somewhere to-morrow morning. Supply trains are ordered to be well stocked immedi- atelv.
Our wounded men, as well as those of the rebel army. left on this side of the Potomac. are still suffering, recovering. and dying in hospi- tala far and near. Dr. Madill received his commission as surgeon be-
·
104
CAMP FIRES OF
fore we left Cedar Mountain-a merited promotion, as he had always discharged most of the duties pertaining to the whole department, while only an assistant-surgeon. He has been the only surgeon with our regiment until Saturday last, when our new assistant-surgeon, Dr. Stillwell. arrived.
Charles Tice, of Company F, and John Palmatier, of Company E, died last week of wounds received at Antietam. George C. Ames, of Company I, wounded at the same time, can not long survive, if now living.
* * * Last Thursday evening the order to " fall in" immedi- ately in " light marching order" was resounded hereabouts. Not an officer or man knew the cause for it, but we were very soon in mo- tion, as we supposed for an interview with the enemy somewhere on this front, but soon ascertained that " Hooker's dirty, fighting First Army Corps" were to be massed in a big field for the purpose of being shown up to Mcclellan and Old Abe.
General Patrick commanded this division on the occasion, and we lay around waiting and snuffing foul air till ordered back to quarters, long after dark. without having seen our Commander-in-chief. Next morn- ing the corps marched to the same place for the same purpose. The heat was oppressive. the field dusty, and we lounged, perspired, and inhaled the effluvia of dead horses and other decaying matter on the late battlefield, until half-past three o'clock. when Mcclellan and staff, accompanied by the Chief Magistrate, arrived on the ground. The ar- tillery saluted, the reviewing party rode along the lines, and the bore and farce of a day and a half were over, and the men were marched home to their late dinners.
On Saturday an expedition of more utility as a sanitary measure was ordered by General Patrick for his brigade. Each regiment was marched down to the Potomac at eight A.M. to bathe, and wash and boil clothing of every description, and allowed the greater part of the day, a privilege appreciated after the necessarily strict orders against wandering far from camp, when liable to be called into line any moment, to which we had long been subject.
*
We get a mail about once a week. brought up from Washington (80 miles) by our sutler, in his weekly trips to and from that city. *
The President's proclamation does not seem to offend any one in this part of the army. It is pretty well settled in these mil- itary circles that negroes during the continuance of this war are as clearly contraband as cannon, " hard tack," quinine, saltpeter, or mer- curial ointment.
Forage for horses is very scarce and hard to get in this section ; salt pork hardly been seen for several months past, and the men are get-
.
105
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
ting tired of cooking fresh beef. They' want to get into the valley of the Shenandoah before the late peaches are harvested and the pota- toes dug. Yours truly, FRED. BURRITT.
P. S .- We are to lose General Patrick, who is appointed provost marshal of the army of the Potomac, and is to report to General Mcclellan's headquarters. Wo to the ruthless pillager who falls into his hands! His ability on the field has won the respect of the men, and his departure will be deeply regretted by all. The command will devolve upon Colonel Rogers, of the Twenty-first.
106
CAMP FIRES OF
CHAPTER XVII.
VARIETY.
THE division, now under command of General Dou- bleday, moved on the 20th from this point, and bivouacked for a few days near Bakersville, five miles north of Sharpsburg. Nothing occurred here worthy of note except a picket quarrel, in which one of the Thirty-fifth was wounded. A cold rain set in on Saturday night, the 25th, continuing all night and the following day, and did not cease till the morning of the 27th. During the afternoon of Sunday, the 26th, orders were received to march immediately for Cramp- ton's Gap. This order turned us houseless into the cold northeaster which came down incessantly, drench- ing us to the skin. Hours elapsed before the long column which was to precede us had passed, and night densely dark and gloomy spread around. Cheered by the darkness the spirit of the storm grew wilder and fiercer, and laughed in apparent glee.
The boys had made huge bonfires of the rubbish of deserted tents, and around each a group of soldiers looked in the vivid glare of the firelight like so many specters. The passing column would come up out of the darkness into the light, blurt out some badinage at us, and plunge again into the gloom. At last the tail of the great serpent trailed itself past, and we plunged out into the blackness. The rain had made the knapsacks heavy, and the earth a slippery, slimy
------
1
107
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
mass of mire. We staggered, braced, staggered again, and fell-fell sprawling into this muddy mixture. The passing of thousands of feet had made a sea of the road. It was from half-shoe to ankle deep, and treacherous sloughs let the unsuspecting soldier almost knee-deep into the slush.
Mirthfulness, which is characteristic of our rude life, and never dispensed with even on the battle-field, here as there mingled with this misery, and every now and then peals of laughter would ring out upon the night as some unlucky wight would slip, stagger, and fall full length into the mire, then drag himself out cov. ered from head to foot, and chilled to the bone, a fit subject for compassion rather than ridicule. It was a never-ending slough that we waded in, while the ceaseless, blinding storm slapped us keenly in the face. The artillery and trains balked and mired at every moment, blockading the way, and progress was slow and laborious. Midnight was close at hand when we were allowed to lie down in the mud and storm till morning, two and one-half miles from where we started.
When daylight crept softly over the eastern slope and looked down into Smoketown, he got a view of abont as scaly a looking set of men as ever wore blue uniforms. The two following days were spent in reaching Berlin, where we remained in camp one day.
On the evening of Thursday, October 30th, we again crossed into Virginia on a pontoon bridge at Berlin, and made a night march by moonlight of about ten miles on the turnpike toward Leesburg. This was a part of the general advance. The next day Colonel Hoffman mustered the regiment for six months' pay now due. The need of this pay had been felt very
1
108
CAMP FIRES OF
seriously by both officers and men. We moved for- ward two miles in the evening. Several returned paroled prisoners joined the regiment here, among among them Sergeant Lorenzo Howes, and privates Daniel Beckwith, Charles Sweet, Michael Grady, and Clinton Robbins. The division bivouacked in line, as the pickets had had a skirmish with the enemy, and been driven in.
A very rapid march on Saturday brought us to Purcellsville, and turning from the main road into a beautiful grove of oak, hickory, and ash, we bivou- acked. During the day cannonading had been heard in this direction, and pieces of shell picked up showed that the fight opened here; but it had receded as we approached, plainly indicating that our forces had driven the enemy rapidly into the mountains. Sunday following proved a Sabbath in the true sense ; and as the following extract of a letter says what we wish to say of this blessed day, we give it :
" We had marched rapidly all day cheered by the roar of cannon, and toward night bivouacked at Pur- cellsville, where the battle had commenced in the morning ; but the rebels had been driven some eight miles toward the Gap. We were not needed on the following day, though the fight continued throughout the day and was only closed by the shadows of night- fall, so a day of rest-a Sabbath was granted us. It was improved by church service. The primeval forest was our church, lighted up with all the splendor of a brilliant sun, and decked most gorgeously with the rich and varied tinted foliage with which autumn so lavishly adorns the forests. The same breeze that wafted to us the deep-toned thunder of the battle near the Gap, wafted a shower of seared leaves from the
-
. .
109
THE TWENTY-THIRD.
overhanging boughs which fell upon our heads-a meet baptism and token of the presence of the great I Am at our worship. The scene was a solemn one, and the clear, rich tones of our chaplain, as in eloquent terms he expounded the great truths of God's plan of salva- tion, and reverently lifted the vail that we might gaze upon the glories of the hereafter, added a deeper solemnity, and in awe we felt that God was walking through the forest and in our midst. Hundreds of stout hearts, who had looked death calmly in the face in more than half a score of battles, were now awe- stricken, and bowed in devout worship of His unseen presence."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.