History of the 27th regiment N.Y. Vols. , Part 13

Author: Fairchild, Charles Bryant, 1842- comp
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Binghamton, N.Y., Carl & Matthews, printers
Number of Pages: 654


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MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. H. BROOKS.


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THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR HARD.


replied, " We were looking after a rabbit." "Ah !" said the General, in his blandest tones, " so you were hunting rabbits, were you ? Well, I can save you the trouble." Calling to a staff officer, he said : " Mr. Parsons, these men are looking for rabbits; just show them to the rabbit pen." Following the officer, they were conducted to the guard-house, where they were kept for a few hours, and then released.


Confinement in the guard-house was a mild punishment compared with some of the methods adopted at head- quarters. Passing the vicinity, one would observe several men lugging rails upon their shoulders and marching around in a circle under guard, and near them others stand-


POLTA:


COWAKN


DRUNKARD


MODES OF PUNISHMENT.


ing upon barrels, and still others were marching around with a barrel overcoat. This was a favorite mode of pun- ishment with the old General, but the rogues were usually disporting themselves in their limited circles, not feeling very keenly the humiliation it was designed to produce.


Still another mode of punishment was to make the cul- prits sit astride a pole, elevated and supported upon forked posts about ten feet high, each man wearing a placard stat- ing the nature of his offense. (See cut.)


Sometimes the offender would be put on special log duty. Two or three sticks of four-foot fire-wood, not excessively large, but fair size, were placed at one end of a line, and as many more at the other end. The transgressors were re-


.


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quired to shoulder a billet at one post and carry it in " com- mon time" to the other, there to lay it down, and taking up another, to return over his beat and deposit it at the place of departure, and so on for several hours. The pun- ishment consisted not in the laborious character of the occupation, but in the fact that it was useless labor, and known to be such by every one else as well as the offender.


Another Soldier's Letter.


CAMP OF THE 27TH REG'T N. Y. VOLS.,


NEAR WHITE OAK CHURCH, VA., March -, 1862. 1


DEAR FRIEND :- Your ever welcome letter of - date received. You ask me to describe the incidents of a regiment on the march.


To the uninitiated, a day's or night's match of an army might seem easy to define-nothing more than the change of its location some ten or perhaps twenty miles, entailing a promenade interesting or the reverse, according to the nature of the country. But this would be a very faint idea of the reality, especially when, often after tramping for hours under a hot sun, darkness brought no halt, and the marching extended far into and perhaps through the night.


Orders have been received to prepare to move, and daylight is faintly glimmering when the first stir is made among the shelter-tents, in answer to the bugle notes of reveille. Breakfast is hurriedly cooked and eaten, if the boiling of a quart cup of coffee and the frizzing of a piece of pork on a smoking log may be termed a culinary process.


The laggards and epicures are still enjoying the last monthfuls when ' the bugles again sound the " general," which means, " Strike tents, pack up, and form regimental line." A large army has in it elements of : well regulated community, and it is as easy for fifty thousand soldiers to bestir themselves as a dozen. So in a moment, acres of tents melt away like spring snow, and the white camp has given place to thousands of armed black figures standing amid surrounding camp-fires and skeleton tent-poles. Now time drags, unless your regiment is near the van of the column, for it takes an hour, perhaps more, for the different regiments, brigades, divisions, and corps to debouch from their places of bivonac and take the road in their right order.


At length the column is fairly under way, the men fresh and lithesome in the morning air, when " Halt !" sounds the bugle. Some other corps, or perhaps an ammunition train, comes in from another road, and you lie


15I


HOW A MARCH IS CONDUCTED.


here for an hour. Then the bugle again sounds "Forward !" and the line is off again. Two or three miles are made at a brisk pace, when the gait becomes slower, and the column seems to move by inches. Old soldiers know what this foretells. "A stream is being crossed, and the fording- place permits the passage of only a few men at a time. Over they go, however, perhaps waist deep in water, and, as soon as the opposite bank is reached, the closing up process begins, and "Double-quick " is the word. The longer the column is, the slower by degrees becomes the march of those not yet over, and a long running march in wet clothing will be the lot of those who bring up the rear after crossing the stream.


The mien think it would have been just as well if they had been allowed to straggle up leisurely and save their wind, for no sooner does the last straggler come puffing up to join his command, than " Halt !" is blown again, and down all sink on the ground for a rest.


Now something seems to be in the way, for after a few minutes comes an order to turn out of the road, and the line pushes through the bushes and brakes on each side, and past a long ammunition train, discovering at length that one of its wagons has been stalled. i. e., stuck in the mud. The drivers of the mules are pulling, hauling, striking and swearing, and the mules are kicking and plunging as only army mules can do and sur- vive. The line is at length past the obstruction, and again takes the road. Perhaps it is noon by this time, and if there is no hurry, a halt may be made to boil the much-loved coffee ; but if, on the contrary. it be neces- sary to make up lost time, the column presses on, each man nibbling hard- tack as he goes, or biting into his piece of bacon if he is the lucky pos- sessor of such a morsel. There is no time for rest now, and the tired men sweep along with the steady swing indicative of the veteran.


On the morning start, the regiment was noisy with conversation and loud jokes were passed from one to another. One soldier would call out, "lley, Jim : what are you here for, anyhow ?" Jim would answer with grim facetiousness : "Thirteen dollars a month and found-dead." A voice would follow with some other absurd question that would receive an equally ludicrous reply, and then would burst forth the chorus, "John Brown's Body," sung by everybody who had voice enough left, followed by " Rally Round the Flag," and under the inspiration of the air and words the regiment would jog along as though unconscious of the surroundings.


Later in the day, words grow fewer, and laughter and song more scarce; and now, late in the afternoon, the soldiers have no stomach or spare wind for words, and scarcely anything is heard but the groan of some sufferer


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from blistered feet, or the steady clink of the bayonet, swinging at the left side, against its neighbor, the canteen. An occasional straggler drops from the column : he may be really sick, and will wait for an ambulance : or he may be what army vernacular terms a " cooler" or a " boiler," and. if fortunate enough to elude the lynx-eyed provost guard, will shirk off into a piece of woods, cook his pot of coffee and drink it, take a quiet smoke, and come straggling into camp a long time after the regiment has reached it.


For hours the troops have been travelling along a road which, at all points, was "a right smart distance," " two screams and a holler,". or "a right smart git" from the haven aimed at. Such, at least, have been the answers received from grinning contrabands and pipe-smoking dames along the way. Up hills, down into valleys and across brooks, the column moves, with the grim and silent woods often upon each side : and, although the sun sinks, still no indications of a halt have appeared.


Sometimes during the last few hours of a march, each side of the road will be lined with stragglers whom it is impossible to force along further, their powers of locomotion having completely given out. At times both men and horses seemed to plod along mechanically, asleep to everything but the fact that it was their business to walk and cover ground. The men would doze while jogging along, to be suddenly startled by a halt, or some obstruction in the road.


Soon, however, straggling orderlies, and perhaps an aid, pass the column towards the rear, and eager questions are again asked as to the distance yet to be traversed. Perhaps camp is only a mile away, but a long mile it appears to be, ere the first indications, in the shape of some headquarter's tent, or the encampment of a battery, are seen. Gradually the column leaves the road, brigade after brigade turning to the right or left, and are marchea straight ahead, -some into ploughed fields, and others into thick woods, where they halt, stack arms, break ranks and proceed to cook supper. Water and wood may be directly at hand, or both may be half a mile away It is certain that every regiment cannot be in the same proximity to these necessities of a soldier's existence ; but even the growlers are at length satisfied, or appear to be, and in an hour the great bivouac of thousands is silent.


And this experience may happen day after day upon a continuous march sometimes not so hard, and at other times infinitely more so, es- pecially when rain sets in to drench everybody, convert the roads into heavy, sticky clay, and thoroughly spoil every one's good nature.


Yours. truly, ***


153


A WELCOME TELEGRAM.


March 23d and 24th .- There was company drill in the forenoon and afternoon. This caused a great deal of grum- bling. As our time is so soon to expire, the men think they have had enough of such duty.


On the 25th all cartridges were taken up, and fresh am- munition issued. From this time till after the first of April, "base ball" was the popular amusement in camp, and a select nine from our regiment played many games and re- turn games with the 32d New York Regiment, the 27th winning a good share of the games. This sharp exercise put the men in good condition after the winter of idleness in their tents and cabins.


April 14th .- This has been another "red letter" day with the regiment. For a week the camp has been in a ferment of excitement over the removal of Gen. Bartlett, our brigade commander. It seems that Congress, for polit- ical reasons, has failed to confirm his appointment as Brig- adier-General, and he has put off his uniform, and dresses in citizen's garb. Monday was the day on which he was to take leave of his old brigade, and we were ordered to turn out at I o'clock to bid him farewell ; but we were hap- pily disappointed. Early in the day he was summoned to Gen. Hooker's headquarters, where he received a dispatch from the President re-appointing him ; and at 4 o'clock the brigade was ordered out to welcome him back, on the same ground where we had supposed, only a few hours before, we were to see him take his leave. He appeared in full uni- form, and read the following telegram :-


"Tell General Bartlett to put on his clothes again, and return to his command. A. LINCOLN."


Gen. " Joe" then made a rousing speech, and said, " he did not even ask for a confirmation. All he asked was the privilege of leading such noble and generous soldiers into battle once more !"


He then rode off. followed by cheers of joy from his vet- cran followers. Had he not been returned. it is a question whether the two-years regiments would have followed any


CAPT. SAMUEL M. HARMON, CO. " I."


155


MEETINGS BY THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION.


other leader into another battle. They would have feared to risk their reputation in the hands of an untried man.


April 3d the 6th Corps was reviewed by Gen. Hooker. The men were all in fine spirits and expected to move soon. There was another hard snow-storm on the 5th, and more or less rain till the 8th, when there was a grand re- view of the Army of the Potomac, by President Lincoln, which left the men in good spirits and ready for a move. Under this date, one diary says: "Went to the review of the army .; saw Father Abraham ; saw Gen. Sedgwick, and several other great guns."


The following, from a diary, tells how another soldier spent April 13th : "A very beautiful day. My health is excellent. Regimental inspection at nine ; general orders were read to the men relative to re-enlistment, and also a part of the Articles of War. I attended service at White Oak Church at three, and heard a most excellent sermon by a missionary of the Christian Commission. I also at- tended a prayer-meeting, on Saturday evening, at the same place ; it was very interesting. Meetings are now held in the church every evening, conducted by the Christian Commission, and are well attended. This is the hap- piest Sabbath I have passed in a long time. There is but little prospect of moving, yet plenty of rumors. During our stay in the army we have made the acquaintance of several Mr. Say-So's. They are not very reliable. News from Charleston is very encouraging. This army is in good spirits, and most of them ready for a move."


April 13th .- This morning all the cavalry in the army have broken up their camps and are moving up the river, but we do not know their destination. With a comrade I went over to see the captive balloon, which is now kept up every pleasant day. The station is located far enough back from the river to be out of range of the rebel cannon. Two men usually make the ascent, equipped with large field-glasses and telegraph instruments. From an elevation of about two thousand feet they can overlook the rebel works and telegraph their observations to headquarters.


L


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RECORD OF 27TH REGIMENT N. V. VOLS.


April 14th received orders to move, and drew sixty rounds of ammunition and ten days' rations, but the weather continued stormy and the contemplated move was delayed several days. The time was taken up with reviews, inspection, picket, pay-day, and writing letters, another of which we quote :


A SOLDIER'S LETTER.


CAMP OF 27TH REGIMENT N. Y. VOLS., 1


NEAR WHITE OAK CHURCH, Va., -, 1863. 1


DEAR FRIEND :- Your letter came Monday afternoon, and was read with the same pleasure that all of your letters give me. To day we are having one of your cold March days. The ground is frozen ; a cold wind is blowing and a few flakes of snow are flying. It is time for spring, but winter seems loth to leave us. We have had a few pleasant days, but none warmer than it was there the day you wrote. It is a mistaken idea that we are far enough south to enjoy a warm climate. We have about the same changes and degree of temperature that you have had in York State. No signs of flowers or vegetation yet, and besides, were it warm weather, I don't believe this country would produce a flower, the land is so barren and poor, except along the river.


You wish to know something about the mail arrangements in the army. At Washington there is a military postoffice where all the letters for the soldiers are sent. Here they are sorted, letters for each division being put together. Then agents bring them to army headquarters, where they are delivered to the letter-carriers of each division. These sort and give them to the brigade carriers, and these in turn deliver them to the head- quarters of each regiment, and then they are sent to the companies. We usually get a mail every day.


As to the camp, it is a very interesting picture. Now that the men have built log huts, it is more like a city. The streets are regularly laid out. The headquarters are a little distance off, in a line with the main street, and the line officers' tents are on the left, fronting the company streets. This part of Virginia is not hilly, but very rolling.


When we laid out this camp, on the 19th of December, it was in a dense forest of pine and cedar, and not far off was plenty of oak timber : but now scarcely a tree is left standing, and we have to go a mile and a half for wood, and " tote" it in on our backs. In some places where the trees had been cut high, we took the second cut off the stumps, and even


157


A SOLDIER'S LETTER.


dug out the stumps where it was easy digging. We get but little at a time, as it is not safe to leave any out-doors at night, for some find it easier to steal than to carry it from the woods. The land is now nicely cleared, and you can imagine what a change it has made in the appearance of the country. Citizens returning would not know their own farins.


The roads are rapidly improving here, and it is quite evident that Gen. Hooker contemplates another move as soon as practicable. He has issued orders to the different generals to procure all necessary supplies, dispose of all surplus baggage, and have their commands in readiness to move at a day's notice. The rebels are still in strong force on the other side of the river. We can plainly see them at work on their fortifi- cations. Whether "Joe" intends to attack them here again, it is hard to tell. If he does as well with his army in action as he has while we have been in camp, he will win for himself a noble name. He has won the esteem of all the army, because he has been so prompt in supplying the wants of his men. Never has an army lived better than we have this winter. We have been content, and in fact have enjoyed ourselves much of the time.


The question now uppermost in our minds is, shall we return to the service after we are discharged ? Many say they will not I have not fully decided, but think that after a short visit home I shall re-enlist, and may do so without returning home. The soldiers are much pleased with the Conscription Act, and think it will hasten the end of the war, but it must make a great many squirm, at home. Some, it seems, talk of resist- ance, and we hear that there are organized bands to resist the draft. We may have to come home and put them down, and would like nothing bet- ter than to see the skulkers who are urging others, forced to go them- selves, also our Northern secessionists ; I think the Northern fault-finders mnight reap some benefits from a soldiers' campaign. So let them come, we say, and tell their friends not to shed a tear.


The pressed pansies you sent me were the first bright objects that have greeted our eyes in many a month. Nothing could be more acceptable than such tokens in a time like this. There seems to be nothing beautiful on the face of the "Old Dominion" since war, with its devastating heel, has trampled upon its " sacred soil."


I long to return to my own home-land, with all the attractions and social pleasures that it now affords, and for the new ones that it will afford ; for a brighter day will soon come, even for the South, which was always attractive for its sunny skies, but uninviting because a dark, dark spot has dimmed its brightness. This shall remove, and our whole country be


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held up to the world, a picture bright and beautiful with attractions that we cannot now even name-a country whose God is the Lord, shining as the sun and surpassing all others in brightness. This is not a dream, but a fulfillment, to accomplish which we are ready to sacrifice our blood upon the altars of our country. And for this service we ask no better reward than the sympathy and support of friends at home.


With best wishes, I remain,


A WOMAN'S ANSWER.


HOME, April, 1863.


MY DEAR FRIEND :- Here I am again, and so full of good wishes that, if the envelope had not held me tightly in its grasp, I should have scattered them all along the way, among the blue coats I passed. But though that might have divided them among the many, it would not have been fulfill- ing my errand, so as I am safely here, open me carefully and take my greetings, -greetings that come from one who loves her native land ; who thinks with gratitude of the soldiers who are striving to defend her in her hour of distraction ; and whose most ardent wish is, that "He who re- moveth kings, and setteth them up," may so order in His infinite wisdom, that the summer's sun may shine o'er a peaceful country, -a country where the cannon's roar and the din of arms have ceased, for brothers war no more with brothers.


The beautiful spring has come once more. Its bahny breathing air to- day ; its warin sunshine seems full of beauty to us, after the winter's cold breath ; vet there is a sadness about it, for its gentle breezes murmur "Advance " on the Rappahannock, and I wonder if there is a stir among the camps. God protect them if there is, and shield them by His mighty power. He is a refuge in the time of trouble ; and how sweet to be able to cast all our care on Him, feeling that Jesus still lives to intercede for us, and that He will. For if He died to save us, will He not plead for us, now He is ascended on high. "Blessed be the name of the Lord for ever. For wisdom and might are His."


How my thoughts follow the soldiers as they march ! I can imagine them plodding on ; every footfall I seem to notice. Yes, our soldiers go not alone. A thousand womanly hearts go with them, hearts full of grat- itude to our country's preservers. They note their privations and know


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A WOMAN'S ANSWER.


their sacrifices, and are hourly dropping prayers around their path. May our Heavenly Father heed those prayers !


As I sit down to my meals, I wonder if they are taking theirs also, and if they partake of a comfortable one. As I enjoy the comforts of a good home, and a warm room at night, I think of them in their tents. And for what are they there? That I may enjoy the comforts of my quiet home, undisturbed by the ravages of foes. And this is why I ask Heaven to bless them for their patriotism and fidelity.


Our country (any country in war) makes hard demands of her sons. But let our soldiers glory in the fact that they have the best country to fight for in the whole world-the noblest! And how I wish all those who have so nobly stood up for their country could see her emerge in all her purity as the fruit of their toil and blood. And will they not see it? In that beautiful Land where so many now rest, undis- turbed by the din of arms or the cannon's roar, tasting of that peace found only in Heaven above, they will see. They will look down upon the victory of the right, and strike their harps anew to the praise of Him through whose grace they conquered, -through whose grace their efforts became a blessing.


How sad the death of General Summer, just at this time when we feel that we need all our generals. It seems to induce the thought that our Father seeks to draw our trust from them to Him. Generals Mitchell and Sumner, who doubtless looked to a death on the battle-field with their brave troops, breathed out their lives in quiet, with friends (this was true of Gen. Samner at least) to attend to their last wants, smooth their dying pillows and close their eyes in death. Surely, God was kind to them, and a Nation now honors them, and will love them none the less though they died in peace.


We are looking forward to the time when we can welcome you again in Many changes some of the boys will find at home-especially those who have not left the service since they first enlisted. They, too, I presume, have changed while leading their wandering life. It seems to them, no doubt, a long time, in looking back to that afternoon when. amid the hnzzas of the multitude and the tears of friends, they left for the seat of war. Yes, noble remnant of the 27th, welcome home again ! You went out to defend our hearthstones from the ruthless invasion of foes, and though the rebellion is not yet quelled, we believe that you have done all that you could. Fearless and brave in battle, courageous amid your enemies, richly have you won, at the expense of your very life- blood, out estrem and respect. Again I say, welcome ! thrice welcome !


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heroes of Bull Run, and West Point, and Gaines' Mill ; welcome! ve prisoners from rebel pens; welcome! from hospital, where the fever's wild heat is no less a foe to be dreaded than the enemy's bullets. Come home to your hearthstones and your sires. There's been a sorrowing here for the absent one ; anxiety that cannot be told, as the eager glance hastily scanned each account of battle, fearing your name would there mark the loved one fallen. Precious dust you have left where you have been ; dust we trust guarded by angels-some by the water's side, some by the hill. ' Yes, welcome ! truly, welcome ! Come one, come all, and we'll greet you kindly home.


Faithfully yours,


The maid who binds her warrior's sash, With smile that well her pain dissembles, The while beneath her drooping lash One starry tear-drop hangs and trembles. Though Heaven alone records the tear, And Fame shall never know her story, Her heart has shed a drop as dear As e'er bedewed the field of glory !


The wife who girds her husband's sword, 'Mid little ones who weep and wonder, And bravely speaks the cheering word, What though her heart be rent asunder : Doomed nightly in her dreams to hear The bolts of death around him rattle, Has shed as sacred blood as e'er Was poured upon the field of battle !




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