USA > New York > History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M. -- N.G.S.N.Y. (Eighty-third N. Y. Volunteers.) 1845-1888 > Part 10
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Jan, 8, '62.
Tell L ---- the band plays the " Lazy Dance " very often, but I'm too lazy to dance. * * * If we move it will make no difference in our address. * * * I hardly think we'll cross yet, as the ice (in the Potomac) is too thin, the river too deep to ford, and the rebels too thick on the other shore. I had sealed this when a man brought me the looked-for box containing mittens and all the rest.
Jan. 12, '62.
Were paid yesterday-two months. *
* * Last night one of Company L's men came in and said Sam B --- wanted to see me at his tent ; round I went without fixing up, and I looked like distress ; put my head indoor and there were Mr. and Mrs. B. How they laughed; Sam looked worse than I did. They brought me a package of good things. I find the mittens with one finger very comfortable on guard. * * * There is a very high wind blowing; while on dress-parade our flag-staff fell, but fortunately no one was hurt. I expect every minute to see our tent fly away and leave us out of doors.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
February
Jan. 15, '62.
We are getting the benefit of one of the worst storms I ever saw. Our tents are leaking so, we think of going outside. I imagine how you would open your eyes to see me now. But you would not know me till I washed my face. A baker from 8th Avenue, New York, has a large bakery in Frederick, he takes our flour and gives us 140 loaves for each barrel. It is a pleasant change after seven months of hard tack. Our mess are having their pictures taken to give each other. I send them to you as fast as I get them ; take good care of them, please, as I prize them highly. First I send enclosed is the pet of our mess, John B -; we call him " Handsome Johnny."
Jan. 26, '62
We are all ready for an advance. The news from Kentucky is glorious, and puts new life in the Potomac army, and if we get a chance will send you more of the same sort, or better. *
* One of our mess, W --- , got a box from home with a huge turkey and duck nicely stuffed and roasted. We made Mr. Turkey & Co. leave these parts in a hurry. I find it rather hard to write, as the boys in next tent are having a prayer meeting, and across the way a dance.
Feb. 3, '62.
It is snowing furiously. We have put a rubber blanket in front of the door, and every little while we all rush up and hold on to the tent to keep it from blowing away. * We are anxious to get a look at Manassas and Bull Run, and no doubt we will get all we want of it. We have some men with us who were there, and two dogs -- one a big brindle we call Jeff. Davis. He knows as much as some men. He goes the round of the guard every night, staying a few minutes with each man. * * * Must be brief, as it is near dark. We were kept after inspection to hear the articles of war read for the 1tooth time. * I weigh 145 pounds, pretty good, consider- ing my long sickness last summer. * News from West cheering. Wait awhile and we'll send you some as good from the Potomac.
Feb. 13, '62.
We have battalion drills every morning now, on a side-hill near the camp. Snow up to our knees. It's awful hard work. * * * You'd laugh to see the boys on a double quick fall. They can't get up till all the boys have passed over them. Just received news of Burnside's victory. The boys are cheering throughout the camp. . Please notice this-to one unacquainted, the Potomac forces seem to be doing nothing, but we saved Maryland, and hold it yet, besides we keep in cheek 175,000 rebels who , are in Virginia, almost half of which are opposite our two divisions. Banks' and Stone's * No loyal Union person can find fault with General MeClellan, unless he be awfully ignorant of warfare.
Feb 19, '62.
* Our regiment is in excellent fighting condition, but few sick. We think in case of a battle we will be used as a flanking regiment. being one of the best drilled in the division, and composed of young, active, men; therefore quickly moved from one point to another, and with less loss of life than a poorer drilled one would incur. 1 will tell you what flanking means -- for instance : In an engagement we are held in reserve, and if our forces wish to change the front, by relieving the regiments that have been fighting, and put fresh men in front, we must open fire from some other quarter, and face the music till the change is made, when we retire till wanted again. It is a very responsible position, and only well-drilled men will do.
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CAMP CLAASSEN.
103
Feb. 23, '62
Yesterday being Washington's birthday, the Colonel gave the hardest and longest battalion drill we ever had. Had a sham battle, and supposed ourselves beaten, and had to retreat across a bridge. Our company and two others covered the retreat of the rest. If it ever takes us so long to retreat in a battle, good-bye to the companies that cover it. * Our officers have put in a petition to have this regiment formed into an artillery one, and put it in one of the forts near Washington. It is against the wishes of the men, the men are bitterly opposed to this.
Feb. 24. '62.
* * Had our full complement of cartridges given us this morning. The whole division go en masse. Watch the papers for news. If anything happens to me, I will be cared for by our mess, and my things sent to you. I shall do my duty, and won't be shot in the back. Don't believe first reports of killed and wounded.
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
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CHAPTER VI.
AGAIN INTO THE VALLEY AND OUT.
Sandy Hook .- Camp Davis Revisited .- Bolivar .- A Foraging Party .- Charlestown .- Sibley Tents .- "Spoon !"-Picket Duty .- A General Advance .- Middleway .- Bunker Hill .- Winchester .- First Prisoner Lost to the NINTH .- The NINTH to the Front .- Shields' Division .- Abercrombie's Light Brigade .- Berryville .- The Blue Ridge Mountains .- Aldie .- Back to Reenforce Shields .- Over the Mountains again .- Goose Creek .- Centreville .- The Battle Field of Bull Run, 1861 .- Man- assas Plains .- Weaverville .- Warrenton Junction .- Reconnaissance to the Rappa- hannock .- U. S. Uniforms .- Stormy weather .- The Capture of New Orleans .- " Ye Ballade of Mans. Lovell."-" The New Ballad of Lord Lovell."-Letters.
THE opening of the Campaign in 1862, found Mcclellan still Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the United States. Since Bull Run there had been no great battle fought, the General occupying the time in drilling and disciplining the inexperienced troops ; in other words, making soldiers of the raw recruits. The people at large did not appreciate the diffi- culties under which a body of armed citizens are moulded into the form of an army, and, prompted by officials, both in the army and civil service, the public had for some time been clam- oring for another " On to Richmond " movement. Notwith- standing the accusations of timidity and unnecessary delay wMcClellan kept his own counsel and was silent, but steadily pushed forward his work of organization.
The Army of the Potomac, toward which, for obvious reasons, the eyes of the people were turned, was stationed to cover Washington, while its opponent, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, under General Joseph E. Johnston, was at Manassas and Centreville, with its flanks extending from the Potomac on the east to the Shenandoah Valley on the west, and its outposts within sight of the Capital. General Stone's division of the Union army was near Poolesville, his pickets along the Potomac, while Banks' troops were scattered
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OPENING THE SPRING CAMPAIGN. 105
along the line of the Monocacy. General Frederick W. Land- er's division was on the line of the Upper Potomac.
On January 27th the President, under pressure of "public opinion," issued his first " General War Order," directing a forward movement of all the land and naval forces of the Union to be made on the 22nd of February. From a mili- tary point of view this was a strange proceeding. It advised the enemy, nearly a month in advance, that they were to be attacked, and had better make ready to receive an assault. Unfortunately General McClellan and the President were not in accord respecting this forward movement. Interviews and correspondence have revealed the fact that they held opposite views respecting the operations of the Army of the Potomac, and McClellan was obliged to divulge his plans to a few of the higher officers of the Government. For strategic reasons the .General wished to move the army by water, down the Chesa- peake Bay and up the Rappahannock River to Urbana, thence across the Peninsula to the terminus of the Richmond railroad at West Point on the York River, thus flanking Yorktown and reaching a point within forty miles of Richmond. The President wanted the army to move directly against Johnston at Manassas. McClellan's plan was promptly communicated to the Confederate authorities, and although that officer finally suc- ceeded in convincing the President that his plan was the best, he was only permitted to make the change of base in a some- what modified form, and found the Confederate Army ready to meet him when he landed-not above Yorktown on the Rap- pahannock, but below that stronghold on the York River.
In accordance with the President's order General Mcclellan had directed Banks to march into the Shenandoah Valley, the General-in-Chief accompanying the advance which crossed the river at Harper's Ferry on the 24th of February.
Reveille was beaten in the camp of the NINTHI at four o'clock on the morning of the 25th. Much that had accumu- lated during the winter, in the way of camp comforts and con- veniences, could not be carried by the men and was given to the flames. At eight o'clock the regiment formed upon the
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THE NINTHI NEW YORK.
February
familiar parade ground and marched to the railroad station at Ijamsville, one and a half miles distant, where the men boarded a train of freight cars. All were in high spirits, and pleased at the move towards the enemy. While the people of the neighborhood, too, were glad to see the forward move- ment, doubtless many regretted the departure of the troops, for the soldier's trade had been a source of profit to them, while the men had been guilty of few of the faults that so frequently render the presence of large bodies of soldiers a nuisance to the inhabitants. After a most enjoyable ride of some twenty-three miles the regiment reached Sandy Hook at about two o'clock in the afternoon, and proceeded to the site of Camp Davis. Tents were soon pitched and the men retired for the night. On the following morning many of them ascended Maryland Heights where a fine view was ob- tained of all the surrounding country, and to make the sight particularly interesting, the Union troops could be seen on the opposite side of the river driving the enemy before them. At two in the afternoon the NINTH broke camp and soon af- ter crossed the river on a pontoon bridge, As the men climbed the Virginia shore General McClellan and staff, as well as General Banks, were observed ; this, it was thought, indicated a speedy and aggressive movement. General Thomas J. Jack- son, since the battle of Bull Run, more familiarly known as. "Stonewall," was in command of the enemy, and hard knocks were to be expected whenever the hostile forces should come w in contact. Bolivar was reached at half-past five in the after- noon, and shelter was found in the deserted houses.
No rations were issued on the morning of the 27th, and those brought from Camp Claassen being exhausted, the men were obliged to forage, and, considering the scarcity of all kinds of food, they succeeded remarkably well. Confederate prisoners were constantly passing through Bolivar to the rear, indicating that the advance Union troops had met the enemy. The men of the NINTH felt encouraged at the thought of soon being able to take a hand in the business that had brought them from their desks, counters and work-shops.
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1862
SCOTT "SCRATCHED GRAVEL."
Large numbers of troops were still crossing into Virginia on the 28th. In the afternoon a small party, among whom were Walter Scott and Matthew L. Tabele of Company I, eluding the camp guard, started out on a "reconnoissance." A barn in the distance became the objective, which upon approaching a flock of geese was observed, and the force deployed in order to surround the prize. The geese, becoming alarmed, retreated through a hole into the barn, the last one disappearing just as the party of foragers reached the spot. The barn door was locked: the goose hole, a very small one, but it was thought that the smallest man in the party might enter. The lot fell upon Scott, who immediately essayed the task ; it was a tight squeeze, but by the aid of his comrades who pushed from be- hind, he at length entered. The geese were disposed to resent the intrusion and hissed their objections, but Scott attended strictly to business until the whole flock, thirteen in number, had been seized, killed, and passed through the hole. As each man received a bird he made off towards camp with it. When the last one was disposed of, Scott tried to follow, but the hole seemed to have grown smaller, or Scott had become inflated with success, for he found it impossible to make his exit. There were no friendly hands behind to push, and Scott could see the farmer hurrying towards the barn. The imprisoned forager redoubled his efforts and "scratched gravel" till his fingers were sore. Just about as the farmer came up Scott came through ; his comrades were nearly all out of sight by this time ; the farmer was the bigger man of the two, but Scott was the better runner and reached camp in time to conceal himself be- fore the enraged granger could report to the commanding officer the rape of the geese. A strict search, by a detail of the guard, failed to reveal the presence of a single goose or goose-feather in camp, and the disappointed and disgusted farmer retired. Half an hour afterwards a number of individuals might have been seen scraping away the earth from fresh-looking spots in- side their tents, and from holes in the ground pulling out the bodies of dead geese. Stripped of their feathers and deprived of their "innards," they were soon simmering in the mess ket-
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
March
tles, and when, at half-past nine, the order was given to fall in for the night march to Charlestown, those who partook of the toothsome repast were better fitted than their comrades to cover the eight miles in an hour and forty minutes.
The regiment was in heavy marching order and the tramp was a fatiguing one. When ordered to halt the men were in a profuse perspiration, and for some unaccountable reason were kept standing in the ranks for nearly two hours, by which time they were throughly chilled. A countermarch was then ordered, of some half a mile, and a bivouac made in a piece of woods.
On Saturday, March Ist, a camp was laid out near the biv- ouac. The change from Wall to Sibley tents consolidated the messes, a feature not at all agreeable ; twenty men were expected to occupy each tent, and this necessitated too much crowding for comfort. So close were the men obliged to lie at night that "spoon" soon became a familiar cry whenever any one wished to turn over. Another inconvenience was the dif- ficulty in finding so large a number of congenial spirits to mess and sleep together ; one sore-head would make trouble and an- noyance enough to keep the whole tent in an uproar. The of- ficers' mess was broken up too, but as they had their servants to wait upon them they fared quite well.
Companies D and E, Captains Green and Shanly, accom- panied by a squadron of the First Michigan Cavalry, were ordered on special duty at a point near Leetown, six miles distant.
On the 2nd, Company F, under Captain Angus Cameron, was sent to the Shenandoah River on picket duty. Contrabands flocked into the Union lines by the hundreds and were not re- turned to their masters-as had been the case at Camp Claas- sen in Maryland. The few remaining inhabitants in the neighborhood freely declared themselves secessionists, and this necessitated the posting of guards and pickets in all directions to prevent their leaving the lines with information for the enemy. On the 3d, Company G, Captain Hendrickson, was. sent out on picket, and on the 5th Company C, with a detail
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1862
FORWARD ON THE VALLEY PIKE.
from other companies, under Captain Prescott, relieved Com- pany F at the river.
On the morning of the 6th a general advance of the troops took place, and the NINTH, with the rest of the division, passed through Charlestown, then turning to the west and halting near Middleway, eight miles from the starting place. The inhabitants were clearly hostile in their sentiments and actions. The country seemed rich and fertile, the road was good, the day pleasant and the march an easy one. The regiment re- mained at Middleway until the toth, during which time rations were scarce and sutlers' goods held at such a high figure that the men were obliged to do a little foraging.
At eight o'clock on the morning of the 10th, the troops again moved forward, in a pouring rain, and over roads soon rendered difficult by the storm. When near the village of Bunker Hill, the column halted for the night. During the evening, Companies D and E, relieved from duty at Leetown, joined the regiment. Roving bands of the enemy were fre- quently seen hovering about the flanks of the moving troops, who picked up a number of stragglers, and shot a few who tried to escape. Occasionally a dash would be made upon an outpost, and the pickets were obliged to exercise a degree of vigilance, seldom before required, in order to prevent their being "gobbled up." At eleven o'clock the next day, the column passed through Bunker Hill. The Winchester-or Valley -- pike was a fine level road, the best the troops had yet traversed ; the artillery and baggage wagons moved over it with ease. When it became necessary to double or triple the col. umn, the infantry took to the fields, leaving the road for the teams. When within five miles of Winchester the infantry were halted. Several skirmishes between the cavalry advance and the rear guard of the retreating Confederates occurred during the day, resulting in a few casualties on both sides.
Johnston's army had evacuated Manassas during the first week of the month, and on this day-the 10th-the Army of Potomac advanced to that point. This movement on the part of Johnston's main army necessitated the evacuation of Lees-
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
March
burg, and a corresponding retreat also, on the part of Jackson, who, however, did not fall back until pressed by the Union t: oops.
On the 11th, McClellan was relieved of the duties of Gen- eral-in-Chief, the President; and Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, assuming the general direction of all the armies. McClellan was now pushing his arrangements for the transfer of his army to the Peninsula.
On the morning of the 12th, the men were awakened early, but it was not until seven o'clock that the forward movement was resumed. The column moved slowly, with frequent halts, towards Winchester, where it was expected Jackson would make a stand, but according to orders, that General continued his retreat to New Market, away up the Valley, and within sup- porting distance of the main Confederate army, hoping, no doubt, that the Union troops would follow. Winchester was entered without opposition, and some little satisfaction was experienced when it was discovered that the enemy had left behind them a number of heavy guns, mounted in the fortifica- tions, for want of time or means to remove. As the column marched through the town the few inhabitants who showed themselves wore a rather sullen appearance ; few men were to be seen, and those who were encountered terribly scared, at first ; but upon being assured that no harm was intended against non-combatants, they soon became bold and communi- cative. They declared themselves to be good Southerners- which meant that they were thorough rebels at heart-and that they detested the Yankee soldiers. These people ren- dered good service to the Confederate army during the various movements in the Valley, by furnishing information obtained while within the Union lines.
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The NINTH went into bivouac on the Strasburg pike, a short distance south of the town. Details were made for picket, and Company H was sent into town to perform pro- vost guard duty. Winchester is the county seat of Frederick County, and, at the beginning of the war, had a population of about eight thousand. On the 13th, James J. Keenan, a drum-
III
THE LIGHT BRIGADE.
1862
mer boy of Company I, while straying outside the lines, was captured by the enemy. He was the first prisoner lost to the regiment. On the same day the camp was visited by the Thirteenth Massachusetts, and the two regiments fraternized for a brief season. On the 14th, heavy firing was heard towards the front, the long roll was beaten, the men hurried into line, and a moment or two afterwards were going on the double-quick to the sound of the battle. Upon reaching a point about two miles distant, it was learned that the Third Wisconsin and the Michigan Cavalry had been attacked by a party of Turner Ashby's mounted men, but had repulsed the assault and captured a few prisoners, whereupon the NINTH returned leisurely to camp.
On Sunday, the 16th, the sound of heavy guns and the rat- tle of musketry was heard, but the regiment was not called out. The weather was pleasant, the heavy rains of the previous day, while leaving a few muddy spots about the parade ground, did not prevent a battalion drill, and the usual dress parade in the evening. On the 18th General James Shields, who, on the death of General Lander a short time before, had assumed command of his division at Romney, and who found that the enemy had also left his front, passed through Winchester go- ing towards the front. Banks' army now consisted of two divi- sions, under Shields and General Alpheus S. Williams. Shields was a brave, aggressive and intelligent commander, and no mean opponent for Jackson, as " Stonewall " found to his cost a short time afterwards.
When the news of the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas, fought on the 7th, was received, the men were quite elated and expressed the hope that something like a battle might take place in the East-win or lose. On the 21st the brigade was again reorganized, and consisted, besides the NINTH, of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Massachusetts, the Twelfth and Six- teenth Indiana, four companies of the First Virginia cavalry and two batteries of 10 pdr. Parrott guns. The organization was to be known as the " Light Brigade," and Brigadier-Gen- eral J. J. Abercrombie, Colonel of the Seventh U. S. infantry,
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THE NINTH NEW YORK.
March
was placed in command. The brigade was detached from the division and ordered to march across the mountains towards Manassas, for the purpose of taking the place of a portion of the Army of the Potomac, then preparing to leave for the Peninsula. At two o'clock in the afternoon the brigade left camp, together with other portions of Banks' old division, leaving principally the troops of General Shields to look after Jackson in the valley. Berryville was reached at eight in the evening. It was a rough march of eleven miles, and soon after halting the men lay down to rest and sleep.
At eight o'clock the following morning the march was resumed, the Shenandoah crossed on a pontoon bridge, and shortly after the ascent of the Blue Ridge begun by way of Snicker's Gap. When the summit of the road was reached the command halted for the night. The march had been a pleasant one ; the weather was cool and clear, and the beauti- ful and picturesque scenery much enjoyed. The next morn- ing-Sunday, the 23rd-tents were struck at half-past six, and at eight o'clock the column was in motion on the Aldie Pike. The route led through Snickersville and Philemont and across Goose Creek. The weather continued pleasant and, although many of the men were nearly shoeless, that hardship was almost forgotten in the contemplation of the romantic scenery. After a march of seventeen miles, and when near Aldie, camp was pitched for the night. The men rested until four o'clock the next afternoon, when they were hurriedly called into line and soon the column was countermarching towards the west. Shields had been attacked the previous afternoon by the cavalry of Jackson's command and, finding his force too small to successfully cope with the Confederates in the open field, had fallen back to Kernstown, about four miles south of Win- chester. During the skirmish, Shields was wounded in the arm, but managed to post his troops in an advantageous position for the battle he expected to fight on the following day. Jack- son attacked at noon ; meanwhile a courier had been sent to bring back Abercrombie's brigade.
The Light Brigade hurried along to the support of Shields,
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1862
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BACK OVER THE BLUE RIDGE.
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