USA > New York > Disaster, struggle, triumph. The adventures of 1000 "boys in blue," from August, 1862, to June, 1865 > Part 9
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On the 24th of March the Brigade was ordered to Centerville, so called from the main thoroughfares of travel centering in it. It lies only four miles from Union Mills; was a thriving place before the war, but desolate enough as our army found it. "Farms once worth their thousands, now a mere common ; houses and barns pulled down; fields and gardens dug up into rifle-pits and redoubts ; everything laid
* See MOSEBY's report.
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waste. One can now stand on the commanding ridge where the forts are, which forts are connected by trenches or rifle-pits so deep a Regiment can be marched through them with their heads even with the surface of the ground, and look away across the bloody plains of Manassas to the Bull Run Mountains, and over them to the Blue Ridge, which rises in majestic grandeur high over all. Thoroughfare Gap and Manassas Gap, already historic, are in full view ; and Loudon Heights can be seen with distinctness. This has been nature's paradise almost, but now it is nature's common on which have been 'let loose the dogs of war.' "*
Doctor HOYT mentions another splendid estate north of Centerville, of over 1,000 acres, and a noble though antiquated mansion, owned by LEWIS MACHIN, for many years clerk of the United States senate, and still firm in his adherence to the government, although two of his sons joined the rebel army. At the first Bull Run battle, Mr. MACHIN with his family occu- pied the mansion, witnessed the fight, and threw open his doors for the reception of wounded Union soldiers .. When our forces fell back upon Washington the rebels occupied his farm, and, to escape them, he sought safety within our lines. When Doctor HOYT saw the place, April '63, it was occupied by colored persons,
* " Last Saturday we took horses and rode over the old Chantilly battle- ground. You will remember that the one-armed old war horse, General KEARNEY, was killed in that fight. We saw the spot. The Chantilly estate is one of the finest places I ever set eyes on; 1,300 acres in the farm. The mansion has been burned, and the fences in places riddled with bullets." -[Lieutenant LINCOLN's letter.]
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who were vigilant in guarding the property. Mr. MACHIN, with part of his family, was in Baltimore. His library, one of the finest in the State, he was for- tunate enough to save.
Doctor HOYT writes, under date of March 24: "This morning the Regiment left for Centerville. Vermont troops to supply our place at Union Mills. Arrived at Centerville at two P. M., and immediately set to work arranging a new camp. All the stores, lumber and other camp equipage are to be brought from Union Mills. We find the 39th, 111th, and 125th New York Volunteers encamped here, our Regiment being placed on the extreme right of the line. The seriously sick were left at Brigade hospital, and a new Brigade hospital is being arranged here prior to their removal hither.
Of their camp, when arranged, Lieutenant LINCOLN says, May 18: "I speak upon the authority of Gene- ral ABERCROMBIE, who has been in the service forty years, when I say it is probably the nicest camp in the whole army. I can't begin to tell you one-half its
beauty. Arches and all kinds of ingenious devices decorate almost every street and corner. You can hardly see a tent, the evergreens are so thick." Pretty well for boys who were out on picket or guard duty from two to four nights in a week.
The beauty and order of the camp attracted numer- ous visitors, among whom were many ladies, gene- rally the wives of officers. No pains were spared by General A. HAYS, who had been in command of the Brigade since January, to make their stay with the
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army agreeable. A deserted rebel mansion, near the camp, was fitted up for the reception of guests ; and here Mrs. HAYS often entertained large evening parties of ladies and officers. Here, like the revelers on the eve of "Waterloo," they often "chased the glowing hours with flying feet," good music being furnished by the regimental bands. Horseback excursions to various points of interest in the neighborhood gave additional zest and variety to life in camp.
Great attention was paid to the various forms of military discipline. The men were drilled several hours a day. Every diary, as well as their letters, record the praise bestowed upon subordinate officers and men by superior officers for their perfection in military evolutions, and for their faithfulness in picket and guard duties. It was the boast of the 126th that neither STUART, MOSEBY, or any other raider, ever got through their picket lines. Dr. HOYT says, April 2d : "The Brigade is under constant drill, and fast being educated in the school of the soldier. The Regiment is in fine condition and most excellent spirits. Very few sick." Extract from an anonymous letter from one of the 126th Regiment, dated April 12, 1863: “I would not be at home for the wealth of the Empire State. It would kill me! And this is the spirit of the army. If we fail to sustain the cause of our government, the hope of constitutional liberty through- out the world goes down, and I never wish to see that. But, mother, we will not fail. In the course of time the army will come home; and, whether I am alive or dead, you will be proud to say that your son
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did not stay at home, nor prove recreant in the hour of his country's peril; but stood up for the flag. This country (Centreville) is full of beautiful springs and running streams. If it were not for war's deso- lations it would be a beautiful country."
Every day, almost, there were rumors either of a contemplated advance of the Brigade or of the approach of the enemy. We constantly meet, in the diaries, such entries as this : "This morning, at an early hour, orders were received for the Brigade to hold itself in readiness to move at a moment's notice. The rumor is that the entire 22d Army Corps is to leave the defenses of Washington, and join the Army of the Potomac." "The whole Brigade called out at four A. M., and in line, under arms, to guard against any surprise. Picket lines strengthened," etc., etc.
The constant arrival in the Union camps of refugees from rebeldom, in a most deplorable condition, is mentioned in many diaries. At first all were admitted and their wants supplied, and the tide of fugitives set in strongly and steadily toward our lines. But at length it was found that while many were worthy of commiseration and relief, many more were spies, adventurers and dealers in contraband articles, who, after getting inside our lines, would reach Washing- ton, and then, from their knowledge of the country, elude the vigilance of the pickets, and get back to the confederacy with valuable supplies and informa- tion. The most stringent orders, therefore, were sent from Washington forbidding any refugees to pass our picket lines on any pretense whatever. Touched with
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their forlorn condition, fleeing from an impoverished confederacy, and now homeless and starving, the pickets often shared their rations with them, and General HAYS repeatedly sent wagon loads of provi- sions and medicines outside of our pickets to the hovels where these poor creatures would congregate, sometimes ten or fifteen in a hovel. This was a relief ; but after all, the suffering must have been extreme, and constituted no inconsiderable part of the wretch- edness brought upon the southerners by the insane and wicked leaders of the rebellion. And it will be remembered that this was not confined to Centreville nor to Virginia ; wherever a Union camp was estab- lished, there was the same dreadful experience.
The following extracts from Dr. HOYT's diary will be of interest :
April 21st .- Brigade reviewed to-day by General HAYS. Order of Brigade: Right, 125th New York Volunteers ; left, 126th ; right center, 111th New York Volunteers; left center, 39th *; right Battery, Keystone; left, 9th Massachusetts; day pleasant ; affair passed off creditably. 22d .- General ABERCROM- BIE, superseding General CASEY, took command of the Division in the field.t May 3d .- The battle of Chancellorsville is being fought, and we distinctly hear the heavy guns at this place. 8th .- During the progress of the battle the Division has been in com- plete readiness to move at a moment's notice. 12th .- For six or eight days the Brigade has been engaged digging rifle-pits and throwing up earthworks on our front as protection against attack.
* It is interesting to note that the 126th, 125th, 111th and 39th New York Regiments were companions throughout almost the entire war.
+ Extract from Captain WHEELER's diary : " I wish to record here a con- versation which took place on the 13th, at the review, between General ABERCROMBIE and General HAYS, who were inspecting the Regiment. General A .: 'The Regiment seems to be very uniform.' General H. : 'You will always find them all right, and, besides, they have a good record; they are the Regiment who did the fighting at Harper's Ferry.'"
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But we must glance at matters in other parts of Virginia ; and to connect our narrative with that of the Army of the Potomac, we will give a rapid out- line of HOOKER's movements in the winter and spring of 1862-63.
4
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HAPTER XJ.
HILE the 126th, in their camps at Union Mills and Centreville, were guarding the approaches to Washington, and receiving military instruc- tion and discipline, stirring events were taking place in other parts of Virginia. BURNSIDE's heroic but unfortunate attack on Fredericksburg, where 12,000 brave men rushed on death at the command of a noble and high-minded man, but an inexperienced military leader, who, so far from seeking the command, had accepted it with genuine modesty and reluctance, took place in the early part of December. In the lat- ter part of January, BURNSIDE was relieved, and HOOKER placed in command. HOOKER employed two months in perfectly organizing and disciplining his forces, and in April, 1863, the army was superior in numbers and efficiency to any ever seen on this con- tinent except MCCLELLAN's grand army in the spring of '61. It numbered 120,000 infantry and artillery, 12,000 cavalry and nearly 400 guns. HOOKER sent out several cavalry expeditions to destroy bridges, rail- roads and telegraph lines, one of which got near enough to Richmond to see the smoke of its chimneys. HOOKER's position was at Falmouth, on the north side, and LEE's at Fredericksburg, on the south side
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of the Rappahannock. HOOKER decided to cross with his army and give battle to the enemy at Chancellors- ville, a little to the west of Fredericksburg. The crossing was effected with masterly ability, eluding LEE's vigilance, and so strong a position was gained that HOOKER, elated with success, affirmed that he held LEE with one hand and Richmond with the other. This assertion he confirmed with so strong an expres- sion as even to shock some of the army officers, too well used to irreverent language. But "man proposes, God disposes," says a French proverb. Whether HOOKER's great confidence made him incautious, or whether he lacked the ability to manage the vast enginery of an army in the field, or whether, as some think, the God of armies would rebuke his presump- tion ; from whatever cause, certain it is, the battle at Chancellorsville by no means answered its brilliant plan and commencement. Our losses, as well as those of the enemy, were frightful. LEE's army was not captured, nor did ours secure a foot-hold south of the Rappahannock. The army fought gloriously ; but somehow its leader seemed to "lose his head." Cer- tainly this Chancellorsville campaign added nothing to the reputation of "fighting JOE HOOKER." The most noticeable event of the battle, and the severest loss to the enemy, was the death of the redoubtable STONE- WALL JACKSON, killed by his own men, who, in the darkness of evening, mistook him and his party for " federals."
After this action, HOOKER withdrew his forces to the north of the river again, and the two armies lay for
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some time confronting each other as before. About the 1st of June, it became evident that LEE was plan- ning some important expedition. The time was well chosen. His army was flushed with success, and had been heavily reinforced ; while the Army of the Poto- mac was reduced by the mustering out of 20,000 nine month's and two year's men, as well as by its losses at Chancellorsville. LEE was evidently aiming at the She- nandoah Valley ; but possibly this was a feint to draw HOOKER from his position, on which he would make a dash on the Capital. He sent a large force, consisting of McLAW's and HOOD's Divisions of LONGSTREET'S Corps, to Culpepper Court-house, keeping A. P. HILL's Corps at Fredericksburg in order to mask his designs. HOOKER sent out large parties to reconnoitre and ascertain the enemy's position, as well as to des- troy railways, bridges and depots. Two Brigades of General PLEASONTON's cavalry, under General BUFORD, made a reconnoissance to Culpepper on the 9th of June. A fight ensued, lasting several hours, in which many were killed on both sides, among others, Colonel DAVIS, who led our men across from Harper's Ferry to Maryland Heights on the 12th of September. But the most important result of the reconnoissance was the capture of papers disclosing the design of LEE, which was to advance into Pennsylvania. HOOKER instantly prepared to move northward, keeping the line of the defenses of Washington lest the enemy should be tempted to attack it if unguarded ; and at the same time keeping his cavalry on his left to har- rass the flank of LEE's army. EWELL, who knew the
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whole country, advanced by rapid marches to the mouth of the Shenandoah Valley. Martinsburg was defended by a small garrison, Berryville by one of 3,000 troops, and Winchester by 12,000 men under MILROY. MILROY and his brave band gallantly defended his post for a while, strengthened by the troops from Martinsburg and Berryville, but the rebel force far outnumbered his, and he was obliged to fly. His fault was in attempting any defense against such tremendous odds. The three posts, with valuable stores and several thousand men, fell into the enemy's hands. A few thousand escaped. The confederate army now seemed "master of the situation." Hold- ing the Shenandoah Valley, Maryland and Pennsyl- vania seemed at its mercy. Government took the alarm. The President called on Maryland for 10,000 men, Pennsylvania for 50,000, New York for 20,000, Ohio for 30,000, and Western Virginia for 10,000. The Governors of these States echoed the call and appealed to the people, but for a time the response was feeble. Even Pennsylvania, which was most threatened, could not be made to believe the fact. That class of its inhabitants who had scarcely decided whether war had broken out or not, could not be aroused to a sense of danger until they saw their cattle and horses flying southward, urged on by southern bayonets. Nor was this demonstration long wanting. JENKIN'S cavalry preceded the main rebel army, dashed across the Potomac through Maryland to Chambersburg, seized cattle, horses and other property, and went back over the border, carrying into slavery all the
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negroes they could catch. General EWELL crossed into Maryland, and through to Chambersburg, the garrison at Harper's Ferry retiring before him to Maryland Heights ; EARLY's Division pushed on to . York ; JOHNSON's to Carlisle ; IMBODEN moved up as far as Cumberland ; A. P. HILL's Corps and LEE'S, with LONGSTREET's, united at Hagerstown and went on to Chambersburg. HOOKER delayed no longer to cross the Potomac. His army was divided into seven Corps : The 5th under Major-General MEADE ; the 11th under Major-General HOWARD ; the 12th under Major-General SLOCUM ; the 1st under Major-General REYNOLDS ; the 3d under Major-General SICKLES ; the 6th under Major-General SEDGWICK ; and the 2d, which now included the 3d Brigade, of which the 126th New York was a part, under Major-General HANCOCK. HOOKER's forces were inferior in number to those of LEE, therefore when he reached Maryland. Heights, and found there 10,000 idle men, he tele -- graphed to HALLECK, the Commander-in-Chief at- Washington, for permission to add these troops to his: army. HALLECK, who had a sort of mania on the- subject of the importance of keeping a garrison at or- near Harper's Ferry, refused to grant HOOKER's; request, and HOOKER, in what certainly seems like an undignified pet, instantly resigned his command. Per- haps it was the first time in history that an army of 100,000 men changed its leader on the very eve of an imminent battle. Yet the resignation was accepted, and, to his utter astonishment, MEADE was put in command. But such was the temper of our army, so
10
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thoroughly did patriotism actuate its subordinate offi- cers, and even its rank and file, that even such a change as this was made without the slightest confu- sion or interruption of plans. HOOKER's farewell to his army, and recommendation of his successor, were in the best spirit. MEADE's order, on assuming com- mand, was full of unaffected modesty. The army was too much used to such changes to be overcome with surprise, and not a delay of an hour occurred.
We resume extracts from letters and diaries written at Centreville, passing over the period from May 12th to June 15th, which contains little that is new.
June 15. - General LEE was moving north with a large army, and the Army of the Potomac was slowly moving between him and Washington. General Hook- ER's head-quarters were at Fairfax Court-house. The 11th and 1st Army Corps bivouacked on the night of the 14th one-fourth of a mile from the camp of the 22d Corps, and lit up the night with innumerable camp fires. The 1st, 3d and 5th Corps also passed through the camp, as, in fact, did most of the Army of the Potomac. Captain BASSETT says : "Imagine the road running by your house filled with troops from one side of the road to the other, and reach- ing twenty miles ; then imagine a baggage and ambulance train reaching twenty miles farther, follow- ing the troops, and about a hundred bands playing ; and fancy them all passing your door in a very dusty time, on the windward side of your house, and your house a cloth one, and the 'fly' of it open, and the wind blowing very hard toward it, and you will have
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a slight idea of what we have seen since Sunday. To-day has been very hot, and a good many soldiers fall dead by the wayside with sun stroke .* Probably we could not have had a better position to see the Army of the Potomac. Most of the Regiments seemed small, but the men all seemed in good spirits. STONE- MAN'S and PLEASANTON'S cavalry were a splendid lot of men, and had excellent horses."
Doctor PELTIER says : "June 20 .- LEE is reported to be at Thoroughfare Gap, and advancing. The 2d Corps arrived here last night. June 21 .- Heavy can- nonading going on northwest of us It is thought to be at Snicker's Gap, twenty-five miles from here. The 2d Army Corps moved out from here yesterday after- noon, toward Thoroughfare Gap; and STAHL's cav- alry, about 10,000, went out in the direction of the cannonading to help . HOOKER. To-night the rebels have been whipped and driven into Ashby's Gap. It was principally a cavalry fight. June 24 .- Well, we have received the order to march to-morrow. Our Division is broken up, and we go into the 2d Corps of the Army of the Potomac. There is a great scamp- ering of the ladies now (officers' wives). A good-bye now to ease and comfort. Now come duty and dan- ger, hardship and hard-tack. June 25 .- We have over 100 men (in the Brigade) unfit to march. Doctor HOYT goes with them to Washington. June 28 .- On horseback, about twelve miles from Frederick, Mary-
* A surgeon writes jocosely to a friend : "I tell you this army is a big thing, come to get it all together ; and takes a vast many mules, Brigadier-Gene- rals, and ambulances to run it.".
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land. We left Centerville Thursday, three P. M., and Friday reached Edward's Ferry. We are in the 2d Corps, 3d Division, 3d Brigade. We have slept on the ground three nights ; one, in the rain. Monocacy. * * Doctor HOYT is not with us, and I have to work hard, and get very tired. But I lie down on the ground, shut my eyes, and that is the last I know till five o'clock in the morning; then up, boil my lit- tle coffee, eat a couple of army sponge cakes, give a dose of opium or quinine to the sick, jump into the saddle, follow at the rear of the Regiment, wait on every man that tires out, and if very sick give him a pass to ride in an ambulance. This is a beautiful val- ley ; and I tell you it is a relief to get out of Virginia
into a civilized country again. * * I suppose this is Sunday with you, but it has been a kind of 4th of July with us.
* While we lay at Centerville, HOOKER's army called us " band-box sol- diers," but our boys have beaten every Regiment in the army in marching. June 30, Uniontown. -We marched thirty-six miles yesterday, and we did not start till nine or ten A. M. It was an awful march, and during the last five miles the boys dropped down by hundreds, utterly exhausted, but they are all here this morning. Doctor HOYT overtook us yesterday."
Doctor HOYT says: "June 25 .- For the past ten days all has been life in and around Centerville. One after another the different Corps of the Army of the Potomac have passed through our camp. In the meantime, our cavalry have been active, pressing back
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LEE'S cavalry, and for the moment exposing his con- dition and movements. The battle of Aldie has been fought, within hearing of our camp, and large numbers of prisoners brought within our lines. LEE evidently contemplates invasion and soon the two armies must meet in deadly strife. The last Corps of the army has passed us, and still no order for us to move." Captain WHEELER writes: "In the 3d Corps there were two women, MARY and ANN, MARY on horseback, having been appointed Sergeant by Gene- ral KEARNEY, and ANN in an ambulance. They are in Zouave dress ; said to be very brave and present on all the battle-fields. It is said that at the battle of Fredericksburg they were in the front. "
It was on the 24th that the welcome order to move arrived. The Brigade was ordered to join 3d Divi- sion of the 2d Army Corps, HANCOCK's; and consti- tuted the 3d Brigade of that Division. The sick were sent to Alexandria and Washington ; surplus baggage was disposed of; shelter-tents drawn, and everything arranged for a move. On the 26th they marched to Gum Springs, where they joined HANCOCK's Corps ; thence to Edward's Ferry, where they crossed the Potomac on pontoon bridges ; thence to Sugar Loaf Mountain ; and so on to the Monocacy, whose waters afforded the Regiment such refreshment on their weary march from Harper's Ferry the September before. On the night of the 30th the boys got a little rest, then started again, went around Frederick city, through Liberty, to Uniontown, at least thirty-three miles ; which, says Captain WHEELER, is "the hardest
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marching ever recorded of the Army of the Poto- mac."* July 1st, the Brigade reached Taneytown,
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where they heard heavy cannonading in the direction of Gettysburg. For the great battle there had begun.
* EXTRACT FROM GENERAL ORDER BOOK.
" HEAD-QUARTERS, 2D ARMY CORPS, June 29th, 1863.
"[Circular.] The Major-General commanding the Corps thanks the troops of his command for the great exertions they have made this day in achieving a march of full thirty miles .*
" This severe labor would have only been exacted of them from urgent necessity.
"It was required by the Major-General commanding the army, who has expressed his appreciation of the manner in which the duty has been per- formed.
" By order of Major-General HANCOCK.
"W. G. MITCHELL, "A. D. C. and A. A. A. G."
* HANCOCK afterward stated the distance as thirty-three miles.
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The advance of LEE's army under EWELL and HILL, and the advance of ours under REYNOLDS, the latter, with his cavalry supported by the 1st Corps, were measuring their strength in that first conflict that cost the gallant REYNOLDS his life. On the 2d of July the tired troops of the Brigade were formed in line of battle to the left of the cemetery at Gettysburg.
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